Aldershot Town 1-1 Ebbsfleet United - QUE SERA SERA, WE’RE GOING TO WEMBLEY, KENT!

This, an emotional, nail biting showdown, the Kent side deservedly booked their place in the FA Carlsberg Final and a date with Torquay United on Saturday, 10^th May.

The Devon outfit were actually defeated 1-0 at York City today, but they go through having won that tie 2-1 on aggregate.

But on reflection, Ebbsfleet United’s determined display seven days at Stonebridge Road, winning that game 3-1, was the stepping stone for today’s amazing day.

Two half penalties from Chris McPhee had given the Fleet a deserved 2-0 break a week ago as the Fleet took the game to the Blue Square Premier leaders.

Junior Mendes pulled a goal back for the Hampshire side after 76 minutes but captain colossus Paul McCarthy netted a tie winning third within a minute.

So Liam Daish’s side knew that if they avoided a 2-0 defeat at a wet Recreation Ground today, then they would be playing on the hallowed turf at Wembley Stadium in May.

And a crowd of 4,344 watched another determined performance from the Kent side as they threw bodies in the way of the ball and when called upon, goalkeeper Lance Cronin proved why he is England’s best.

The passionate support from all sides of the ground caused the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up and when Mendes scored his second ever goal for the Shots after 16 minutes and 38 seconds into the second half, the Fleet were hanging on to dear life.

But when nineteen-year-old central midfielder Michael Bostwick scored his fourth - and most important goal - of the season, this sparked wild scenes both on and off the pitch.

That goal was timed at 47 minutes and 17 seconds into the second half and having withstood attack after attack before that, the Fleet broke away and scored the goal that took them to Wembley.

Needing two goals to force extra time, Aldershot Town, backed by their fantastic supporters, started on the front foot, unlike seven days ago.

But Mendes’ shot was plucked out of the air by Mendes following a deflection and Kirk Hudson drove a 25-yard shot, which flashed past the foot of the post, all inside the first ten minutes.

Ebbsfleet United’s first chance fell to striker Chukki Eribenne after 18 minutes.

He met Luke Moore’s cross from the right by-line with a powerful header but unfortunately the ball sailed over Nikki Bull’s crossbar from twelve yards.

Eribenne had actually combined with Bostwick on the half-way line before Bostwick sent Moore on his way down the right hand side.

Aldershot’s Ben Harding drilled his shot agonisingly past the foot of the right post with nineteen minutes on the clock, before Cronin made a comfortable low save at his near post following Mendes’ drilled shot from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Ebbsfleet United’s left-sided midfielder Stacy Long, however, is a man for such occasions as this and he was a thorn in the Shots’ side on the counter attack.

The energetic midfielder picked up the ball before driving into the penalty area before unleashing a lob, which sailed over Bull but agonisingly dropped onto the roof of the net.

But Aldershot Town found exactly why Cronin is England’s best goalkeeper with 24 minutes and 25 seconds on the clock.

Had this shot gone in then Ebbsfleet’s players would surely have been on their holiday’s on 10^th May.

Danny Hylton played a defensive splitting pass through the heart of the Fleet’s back four and Louie Soares was through on goal.

But Cronin stood tall until the last moment and stuck out his right leg to prevent the ball sending the home fans wild.

At the break, Daish, with two Wembley appearances to his name during his playing days, his backroom staff and heroic players knew they were just 45 minutes from Wembley.

Unlike the first half, Ebbsfleet United came out with a more attacking approach - but Aldershot Town were dangerous down the flanks but they found a yellow brick wall in front of them.

Long’s pass gave Eribenne a chance to stun the home faithful after 52 minutes but his shot on the angle was tipped over by Bull.

And from Long’s resulting in-swinging corner towards the near post, the striker glanced his header past the far-post.

Ebbsfleet United’s best chance, however, arrived just on the hour mark.

Teenager attackers John Akinde and Luke Moore exchanged a one-two on the half-way line and Akinde spread the ball from right to left for Long.

Long proceeded to charge forwards and left-back Sacha Opinel was a decoy as he gave Long the opportunity to play the ball to the Frenchman on the overlap.

But Long decided not to play that pass and cut inside and from the edge of the penalty area his right-footed shot curled agonisingly past the right-post.

The volume increased inside the Recreation Ground when Aldershot Town pulled a goal back with 16 minutes and 38 seconds of the second half elapsed.

Substitute Scott Donnelly played in Mendes and the former Mansfield Town striker drilled an angled right-footed shot across Cronin, which nestled into the bottom far corner to give the home faithful belief that their side were going to pull it out of the bag.

This was the time for Ebbsfleet United’s heroes to increase their urgency and protect Cronin’s goal.

But the Kent side went close to levelling proceedings with nineteen minutes remaining when Long’s out-swinging corner found it’s way to Bostwick and his right-footed 25-yarder deflected just over the crossbar.

But if you’re going to make it through to Wembley, you might as well do it on the counter attack inside stoppage time.

Attack-after-attack bombarded the Fleet penalty area and with so much at stake it was vitally important not to leak another goal.

Even Shots goalkeeper Bull raced up for a late corner kick desperate to score.

But the Fleet broke away one last time and once again it was Long who showed that he should be playing at a much higher level than the Blue Square Premier.

After racing into the Aldershot penalty area his shot was initially blocked by Bull but hero Bostwick was on hand to thump the ball into the top right-hand corner from ten-yards to send the Fleet bench running onto the pitch as players and fans’ went berserk.

Having disposed of Carshalton Athletic and Dorchester Town as favourites, the Fleet were the underdogs against their Blue Square Premier rivals in Weymouth, Burton Albion and Aldershot Town and will go into the Wembley Final with that tag once more.

But this Fleet side relish that underdog tag and watch out Torquay United. Ebbsfleet United are going to win the FA Carlsberg Trophy this season and be the first ever Kent club to do so.

What a great day for everyone at Ebbsfleet United - Everybody associated with Kent football are so proud of you!

Aldershot Town: Nikki Bull, Dean Smith (Scott Donnelly 60), Antony Straker, Rhys Day, Louie Soares, Lewis Chalmers, Danny Hylton (Joel Grant 55), Kirk Hudson, Dave Winfield, Ben Harding, Junior Mendes.
Subs: Ricky Newman, Rob Elvins, Mikhael Jaimez Ruiz.

Goal: Junior Mendes 62

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Chris McPhee, Sacha Opinel, Peter Hawkins, Paul McCarthy, Michael Bostwick, Neil Barrett, Stacy Long, Luke Moore (Mark Ricketts 70), John Akinde (George Purcell 85), Chukki Eribenne (Raphael Nade 57).
Subs: Gary MacDonald, Sam Mott.

Goal: Michael Bostwick 90

Attendance: 4,344
Referee: Mr G Hegley
Assistants: Mr R Kendall & Mr S Daly
Fourth Official: Mr D Phillips