IT was certainly an eventful 90 minutes in Kent as Wrexham were made to fight tooth and nail against the nine-men of Ebbsfleet.

In the end though a first half goal from Lamine Sakho just about separated the two sides.

There were a number changes to the starting line-up at Stonebridge Road, with injury, suspension and a virus taking their toll to exclude, Frank Sinclair, Curtis Obeng and Neil Taylor. While Marc Williams and Jamie McCluskey were also left on the bench.

Up stepped Ashley Westwood, Silvio Spann, Lamine Sakho and Wes Baynes, while Nathan Fairhurst made a rare appearance as a substitute.

With a lovely, warm, sun shining down on the banks of old father Thames the game kicked off with about 200 Wrexham fans standing on the open terrace behind the home team's goal.

After only nine minutes a short ball through freed Wes Baynes and as he ran towards goal, keeper Lance Cronin was quickly off his line and made a block, with the ball spinning over him but wide of the far post.

The Fleet responded with two shots on the run, the first by Clint Easton and then Elliott Charles, but both were off target.

A Fleet free kick by Darius Charles was headed goal wards by Leon Crooks and it took a finger tip save by Chris Maxwell to deny him, while the keeper was quickly to his feet to block Elliott Charles' follow up.

The ball went straight down the other end, where Baynes beat his marker to stretch and toe poke the ball at the out rushing Cronin.

Spann picked up the ball in midfield on 35 minutes and advanced before finding Sakho on the left wing, the Senegalese man cut inside and fired his shot across the face of the home goal.

Cronin was back in action moments later as Andy Fleming sprinted forward, switched his pass out too Christian Smith and his cross almost picked out Mark Jones following up on the right, but the United keeper was once again out to deny Wrexham.

The Dragons took the lead on 42 minutes, when Lamine Sakho came in from the left flank and fired a low shot that squirmed under Cronin, who looked over his shoulder to watch as the ball crept agonisingly over the line for the striker's first goal.

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A double substitution for Ebbsfleet as Ricky Shakes replaced Wills and Stefan Bailey was sent on for Chris Henry.

Chris Maxwell was caught out by a high bouncing ball on the edge of his six-yard box, and was relieved to see Shakes' effort pulled wide of the target.

Then a long clearance from the Dragons defence saw Baynes racing away down the right, but with no support he was forced to try his luck with an angled shot, that only found the side netting.

Wrexham were getting pinned back in the early stages of the second half and while Maxi saved Magno Vieira's goal bound effort, it then took three goes before we finally cleared our lines as Ebbsfleet poured men forward.

The first booking of the afternoon went to Spann on the hour mark, when he brought down Ishmael Welsh deep into his own half.

In a bid to add a few more defensive qualities to the midfield, Nathan Fairhurst was sent on for Mark Jones with 65 minutes played.

United were reduced to 10-men just three minutes minutes, when centre half Leon Crooks was red carded for fouling Baynes as the striker went passed him. The big man left the field and as he disappeared down the tunnel the sound of breaking glass pierced the afternoon air!

From the 20-yard free-kick, the ball was laid off for Baynes to strike a beauty and Cronin was glad to smother his fierce effort.

Things got worse for the home side, as new signing Clint Easton limped off the pitch to be replaced by Dean Pooley with a little over 15 minutes left.

United were not gong to down without a fight though and after winning a corner the ball ran back to Gavin Heroo allowing room for a first time effort that fizzed passed Maxwell's right hand post. And this was followed shortly afterwards by Peter Holmes' 25-yard dipping free kick!

In a straight tactical swap, Jamie McCluskey replaced scorer Sakho on the left wing, adding a fresh pair of legs for the last 12 minutes.

There was another straight red for the home side in the closing stages, as striker Elliott Charles caught Maxwell late on the edge of his box and was also ordered off the pitch.

The nine men then went at Wrexham and pinned the Welshmen back in their own half in a dramatic finale to the match.

All credit to Ebbsfleet for a brave display, but thankfully the three points went to the visitors.

Ebbsfleet: Lance Cronin, Leon Crooks, Darius Charles, Gavin Heroo, Clint Easton (Dean Pooley 72), , Ishmael Welsh, Peter Holmes, Chris Henry (Stefan Bailey 46), Kane Wills (Ricky Shakes 46), Magno Vieira, Elliott Charles.
Subs: Michael West, Scott Ginty.

Wrexham: Chris Maxwell, Silvio Spann, Mansour Assoumani, Ashley Westwood, Mike Williams, Mark Jones (Nathan Fairhurst 65), Christian Smith, Andy Fleming, Lamine Sakho (Jamie McCluskey 78), Wes Baynes, Gareth Taylor.
Subs: Sam Williamson, Adrian Cieslewicz, Marc Williams.

Referee: G Jerden (Essex)
Attendance: 969
Away: 200ish

Sent Off -
Ebbsfleet: Crooks (68, foul), E Charles (87, foul)

Bookings -
Wrexham: Spann (58, foul), Taylor (87, foul), Baynes (90, time wasting)