Aldershot Town 0, Ebbsfleet United 2CONSISTENT only in their inconsistency, Aldershot Town’s wildly fluctuating form endured another downturn with a horribly dysfunctional defeat at the EBB Stadium.

And the defeat prompted Shots boss Gary Waddock to admit: “We’ve got major problems.”

Ravaged by an injury crisis which allowed Waddock to name just three substitutes, The Shots started slowly and only got worse as Ebbsfleet comfortably earned a first away win in two months to extend their own unbeaten run to seven games.

In contrast, The Shots have won just once in seven – going more than six hours without scoring a league goal in the process – and even Waddock was struggling for an explanation.

“I don’t know what to say, because I’m the captain of this ship and I’m fully responsible for it. But you also have to say to the players that once you cross that white line you take responsibility for your own performance, and that ain’t happening.

“I just don’t see how you can play like we did at Orient (to take a point from the league leaders just five days previously) and then show up like we did today. I don’t understand it, and I’m extremely frustrated.”

Simply by employing a few essential tenets of the game – organisation, strength and desire – Ebbsfleet were able to flourish, and their vibrant front three of Danny Kedwell, Michael Cheek and Corey Whitely only served to further highlight Aldershot Town’s own paucity of attacking flair.

Reece Grant was deployed as a lone striker for the hosts but remained isolated as his team-mates failed to find any cohesion or quality on the ball.

A stilted first half saw Kedwell come close to scoring in the opening minute, and Jack Payne’s long-range volley hit the crossbar for the visitors. Adam May’s weak effort was The Shots’ only chance of the half, and even though Josh Barrett’s angled drive suggested a more promising second half, they quickly regressed. Before long, they were a ragged collection of individuals.

On 48 minutes, Kedwell was allowed to turn and slide a pass through to Cheek, who deftly beat the advancing Will Mannion and Ebbsfleet were in control.

Marvin McCoy’s skewed header hit his own crossbar, and on 66 minutes Kedwell’s nonchalant penalty – awarded after Luke Howell tripped the tricky Whitely – sealed a comfortable victory.

“It was totally unacceptable but could have been a lot worse,” acknowledged Waddock, after seeing United again hit the bar with Jack King’s glancing header, before Ebou Adams had two shots saved in the closing stages.

“We’ve got major problems. There are a lot of things that are not right and we looked a million miles off it. We’re lacking in confidence and I don’t know what our identity is at the moment. I didn’t see us as a pressing team or a passing team, I honestly didn’t know what we were.”

As they pass the halfway mark in a National League season which has so far delivered a fraction of what was expected, Aldershot Town are a club in dire need of leadership and renewed focus, on and off the pitch.

Aldershot Town: Mannion; McCoy, Bernard, Osho, Kinsella; McDonnell, Howell, Gallagher (Wanadio 55), May, Barrett (Fenelon 55); Grant. Subs (not used): Lelan.

Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore; Magri, King, Bush; Wilson, Adams, Payne, Weston; Whitely (Coulson 87); Cheek (McDonald 90), Kedwell. Subs (not used): Miles, Rance, Graham.

Attendance: 1,663.