And while this was never a classic, the feeling of relief around the ground when Simon Heslop smacked home the 69th-minute winner was tangible.

See the slide show from the game.

There were times when, understandably, the Shaymen looked nervy and they came under pressure late on in the game to ensure they were never comfortable.

But there were a few signs that the luck they have been so badly missing might be starting to return.

Ebbsfleet were forced to play over an hour of the game - the third in six days like Halifax - with just 10 men after Sasha Opinel was sent off by Sheffield referee Jock Waugh.

And the Shaymen could also afford to miss a penalty, Jon Shaw's effort being turned round the post by United keeper Lance Cronin.

But there was no luck involved in the goal that settled the game, Heslop's well-struck effort finishing off one of Town's best moves of the match.

Ebbsfleet carved out the first chance of the night when Stacey Long picked out Luke Moore who sent his shot from the left into the side netting.

And moments later Long latched onto an Opinel pass only to sidefoot his effort over the Town bar.

The Shaymen's best effort of the opening quarter came from Shaw, whose shot on the turn from Matt Doughty's ball in, was easily saved by Cronin.

And Lewis Killeen was unlucky when, following good work by Peter Atherton and Shaw, he got past Mark Rickets who stuck out a foot to deny him.

Chris McPhee should have done better with a free header from Long's corner which came after Ebbsfleet felt they should have had a penalty for an Anthony Griffith handball.

But the game took a decisive turn towards the Shaymen in the 28th minute when Griffith and Opinel went for the ball, both with their feet high, and the Ebbsfleet left back was sent off.

Despite their advantage, Town were only able to carve out one really clear opportunity, Killeen firing in a shot that was blocked by a defender.

And Ebbsfleet almost grabbed the lead on the stroke of half time when Chris McPhee glanced a Long corner goalwards only for Adam Legzdins to leap to his left and save at full stretch.

Town had the better of the early exchanges in the second half with a couple of decent deliveries from Doughty and Forrest, both of which were defended well by Ebbsfleet.

And when Andy Campbell got the better of James Smith with his pace he could only pull a shot across goal and well wide of the target.

Town were handed the perfect chance to settle any nerves and take the lead on the hour when Killeen was brought down in the area after a clever turn from Campbell's ball in, but Shaw was unable to score from the spot.

And Legzdins was in action again at the other end three minutes later, saving from Long who had cut in from the wing.

But Town fans who feared that their side had missed their chance need not have worried as they struck with 21 minutes of the game remaining.

Campbell was the player who created the space with a neat flick and Forrest continued towards the area before playing the ball into Heslop's path. The Barnsley loanee did the rest as he fired home from the edge of the box.

The goal forced Ebbsfleet, with nothing to lose, out of their second half shell and they put the Halifax defence under pressure.

Luke Moore got onto a ball over the top but pulled his shot wide of Legzdins' goal and substitute Charlie Hearn's low cross from the right flashed across the six-yard box.

Moore had an effort blocked by Gaia before Wright headed off his own line as United piled forward for a corner.

But they could find no way through and Town might have added a second late on, but Doughty's free kick from the right was just too high for Shaw to reach.

STAR SHAYMAN
Jake Wright is in the form of his life for Halifax Town at the moment and he gave another composed display at the back last night.
He won his tackles, was solid in the air and made good use of the ball when he was in possession.
It was a great response for a man who had suffered the shock of being in a defence that had conceded six just 48 hours earlier.
Wright will undoubtedly have been helped by the presence alongside him of Peter Atherton.
Chris Wilder knew he had to get a settling influence into the team and Atherton provided just that.
What he lacks in pace at the veteran stage of his career he more than makes up for with an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time.
While Simon Heslop's goal proved to be decisive, it may only have been an equaliser but for a stunning save from Adam Legzdins.
The keeper returned to the side and was never overly busy, but when he kept out Chris McPhee's glancing header on the stroke of half time you could see the lift it gave the side.
Wright takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Atherton two and Legzdins one.

MATCH FACTS
Halifax Town: Legzdins, Ainge (Campbell 37), Atherton (Gaia 78), Wright, Doughty, Griffith, Heslop, Davies (Kearney 57), Forrest, Killeen, Shaw. Subs (not used): Mawson, Stamp.
Booked: Forrest, Atherton.
Sent-off: None
Goal: Heslop 69.

Ebbsfleet United: Cronin, Ricketts, Smith, Charles, Opinel, McPhee, Bostwick, Long (Hearn 65), Barrett (Nade 65), Purcell (Bull 32), Moore. Subs (not used): Hawkins, Mott.
Sent Off: Opinel (29).
Booked: McPhee.
Goals: None

Attendance: 1,063
Referee: J Waugh (Sheffield).

PLAYER POINTS
Jon Shaw 44, Simon Heslop 39, Anthony Griffith 30, Jake Wright 23, Andy Campbell 22, Tom Kearney 21, Lewis Killeen 16, Matt Doughty 12, Steve Torpey 12, Steve Bushell 10, Danny Forrest 13, Daryl Taylor 8, Rob Scott 7, Adam Legzdins 7, Tom Clarke 6, Cortez Belle 5, Craig Mawson 5, Peter Atherton 4, Craig Nelthorpe 4, Simon Ainge 3, Adam Quinn 3, Nathan Joynes 2, Darryn Stamp 2, Ryan Toulson 2, Greg Young 2, Gareth Davies 1, Santos Gaia 1.


YOU SAY
What we lack in quality we made up for by battling.Atherton made a huge difference.5 more performances like that and we'll be ok.- Cliff Richards

Well done lads, lets stuff grays - happy andy

cw picks himself up dusts himself down and proves the doubters wrong again-a tactically perfect display - the taxman

Bouncebackability. Wilder is a god. Capello will be worried - Rob woollhouse

Wilder why are your team selections so negative?They got the upper hand when down to 10 men.Jake Wright outstanding at the back.We got the points.Thats about all you can say.Lets attack Grays for gods sake- ARJ.

we were lucky to win but got the 3 points we needed.come on town 1 final push to make us safe!we can do it! - mark dennis