EBBSFLEET are still yet to win at home after a goalless draw in the Blue Square South against Braintree Town on Monday at Stonebridge Road.

Both sides had chances but neither had the extra little bit of quality required to break the deadlock in this bank holiday clash.

The first chance fell to Dean Pooley with just two minutes gone but the central defender’s shot flew wide of the left-hand post.

Tom Bruno won a corner for Braintree when his shot was deflected but the visitors were unable to capitalise as Paul Lorraine headed clear the set piece.

Kenny Davis gave away a free-kick when he slid into Calum Willock but Ashley Carew thumped his effort straight down the throat of Nathan McDonald in the Iron’s goal.

Braintree countered when Sam Lechmere found Davis in the Fleet box but the midfielder shot wide.

Fleet piled on the pressure with a series of one-touch passes which found Chris Henry but the young defender’s shot was wayward.

Michael West spurned a great chance when Willock set him free with a flick-on but McDonald pushed his effort wide and then punched away the corner.

West and Willock combined again when West was put clear by another Willock header only to see his shot go narrowly wide with McDonald struggling.

On loan Dagenham & Redbridge winger Danny Green conjured up the visitors’ best chance of the half when his cross found Sean Marks, who had evaded his marker, but the striker’s header went wide.

Midway through the first half Willock ran into the box and attempted to cross to Tom Phipp but it was intercepted by Phil Starkey, who deflected it out for a corner which was cleared by the visitors.

With ten minutes to go before the break Ram Marwa hit a thunderous half-volley which sailed narrowly wide.

This was preceded by great build up play by Ebbsfleet. Willock brought the ball down on his chest and dribbled towards goal before releasing Phipp whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Braintree were unable to clear the set piece when Marwa pounced on to the ball 25 yards from goal.

West troubled McDonald moments later with a stinging shot which McDonald latched on to at the second attempt after dropping the first.

Carew then tested the visiting goalkeeper with a fierce shot which was blocked after the Fleet midfielder managed to get free in the area.

Pooley grabbed the last chance of the first half with a fierce strike which was gathered by McDonald.

The defender prevented Ebbsfleet from going behind after the break when he latched onto Lechmere’s goal-bound shot to clear.

West blasted a shot over the right-hand post as Fleet countered at the other end and Derek Duncan launched a lethal cross into the box which evaded the onrushing Ebbsfleet forwards.

Willock’s effort failed to find the target from 15 yards out as the Fleet tried to grab their first home win of the new season.

Phipp was shown a yellow card by referee Ian Crouch after the midfielder left Matt Paine crumpled in a heap by the advertising hoardings. Substitute Jamie Guy almost grabbed a goal for Braintree when he got free in the Ebbsfleet box but Preston Edwards superbly blocked his first effort which rebounded to Guy but the Fleet keeper blocked again.

Willock and West combined again to find Marwa whose shot was palmed over the bar by McDonald.

With minutes left West hit a fierce shot but it is off target leaving both teams with a draw.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Henry (Easton 74), Duncan, Carew, Pooley, Lorraine, West, Marwa, Willock, Phipp (Sealey 74), Stone. Subs Not Used: Hagan, Sherlock, Benjamin.