Against the already relegated and bottom club in the National League, Altrincham took a 17th minute lead from the penalty spot after a foul on Alty's leading scorer, Linney, by Olagunju. Linney himself was the scorer from the spot. However, Cosgrave levelled for the Fleet after 32 minutes.

After a period of home pressure, Ebbsfleet took the lead in the 68th minute when, at a corner, Olagunju made amends for his earlier error with Ansen remaining on his line.

But an Altrincham counter-attack saw Linney advance on the right before laying on a goal in the centre for Amaluzor to make it 2-2 (75 mins).

In an end to end finish neither side could clinch the three points. It is now just one win in nine league outings for Altrincham

SCORERS:

• 17 mins: Regan LINNEY (penalty) (Ebbsfleet United 0 ALTRINCHAM 1)
• 32 mins: Aaron COSGRAVE (Ebbsfleet United 1 ALTRINCHAM 1)
• 68 mins: Mustapha OLAGUNJU (Ebbsfleet United 2 ALTRINCHAM 1)
• 75 mins: Justin AMALUZOR (Ebbsfleet United 2 ALTRINCHAM 2)

Rob Lainton's shoulder injury, incurred in midweek, added the Alty keeper to an injured list already comprising Ollie Crankshaw, Ethan Ross, Eddie Jones, James Jones, Joe Nuttall and Jake Bickerstaff.

So Norwich City loanee Caleb Ansen started in goal, having warmed the bench for the previous six league games. The only other change saw Olson start in place of Cooper at centre-back.

Justin Amaluzor was granted a reprieve from his dubious red card in midweek and he also started.

On the eve of the game, Alty had announced two loan signings; midfielder Callum Dolan from Fleetwood Town and defender Brandon Powell from Blackburn Rovers. Dolan was named on the bench where Matt Penney made a surprise return. Kacper Pasiek had returned to Preston North End and there was no keeper on the Alty bench.

The Fleet made one change to their starters as Passley was replaced by Stewart and, on the bench, Cundle came in for the drparted Kwame Thiomas

EBBSFLEET UNITED (Red and white): 1. Mark Cousins, 36. M. Manktelow, 24. Mustapha Olagunju, 2. Luke O'Neill (c), 22. Ben Chapman, 16. Franklin Domi, 11. George Moncur, 27. Aaron Bolger, 17. Toby Edser, 28. Aaron Cosgrave, 33. Anthony Stewart. Subs: 35. Elijah Anthony, 37. Alexander Aoraha, 9. Rakish Bingham, 18. Ryan Carr, 32. Felix Goddard, 14. Dominic Poleon, 15. Greg Cundle.

ALTRINCHAM (Aquamarine shorts and socks, white shorts): 21. Caleb ANSEN (gk), 2. Lewis BANKS, 31. Charlie OLSON 4. Lewis BAINES (c), 22. Tylor GOLDEN, 22. Tom CRAWFORD, 8. Isaac MARRIOTT, 14. Matty KOSYLO, 11. Justin AMALUZOR, 10. Alex NEWBY, 9. Regan LINNEY. Subs: 5. Jake COOPER, 6. Elliot OSBORNE, 17. LucasWEAVER, 19. George WILSON, 20. Kahrel REDDIN, 42. Matt PENNEY, 77. Callum DOLAN.

Alty went into the game with no win in their last six league matches, whereas bottom-placed and already relegated Ebbsfleet had a win and a draw to their name in their previous two outings.

REPORT:

Altrincham took a seventeenth-minute lead when Linney dispossessed Olagunju on the Laty left, and the defender responded by fouling the striker inside the box. A penalty was awarded which Linney converted for his twentieth league goal of the season, sending Mark Cousins the wrong way.

It took two impressive saves by Ansen, from Cosgrave and Domi, to keep the Alty lead intact but the hosts drew level when Cosgrave made space for himself just outside the box and, from insidethe "D", his fine, low shot gave the Alty keeper no chance (32 mins).

As the interval approached, the hosts were enjoying the forward momentum but the break arrived with the scores level.

After the break, Ebbsfleet were on the front foot with Ansen again impressing as he saved from O'Neill's shot (48 mins).

Altrincham then enjoyed a good spell as an Amaluzor effort went narrowly wide before Cosuins produced a good save from an Olson effort.

Next, after a Golden shot had been routinely saved by Cousins (64 mins), Crawford found himself booked for what must have been dissent (66 mins).

But the Fleet had a period of increasing threat as the second half progressed. Soon after Ansen had saved from Moncur, Baines cleared the ball of the line twice in succession with a corner resulting.

From the inswinging corner, the hosts deservedly took a 68th minute lead as Olagunju compensated for conceding the first-half penalty by slotting the ball home, with Ansen having opted to stay on his line.

Immediately Altrincham made a double change with midfielders Wilson and Dolan replacing Marriott and Kosylo (69 mins)

With things looking grim for the visitors, a counter-attack up the right saw Olson feed Linney who got past his marker to feed Amaluzor with a low cross, which the winger converted to level the game at 2-2 (75 mins).

Each side made changes in he 80th minute with Carr coming on for Moncur for the Fleet whilst Weaver replaced Linney for Altrincham.

Olson then found himself booked (81 mins), after which Reddin supplanted Newby with Alty therefore having now withdrawn their two leading scorers (84 mins). Play was now end to end.

The Fleet soon made a double swap as Poleon and Bingham came on for Domi and Cosgrave (85 mins). After this, Golden became Alty's fourth cautioned player as he picked up his ninth card of the campaign (88 mins).

Just after an excellent save by Ansen, from Carr, which conceded a corner, three added minutes were announced.

Despite those added minutes the sides could not be separated leaving Ebbsfleet unbeaten in three but Alty's record was extended to a chastening one win in nine outings in the league.

Amazingly they remain in reach of the play-offs a both Gateshead and FC Halifax continue to falter as well.