Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Kidderminster Harriers - Daish takes his point

Daish, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, saw it as a point gained towards securing their Blue Square Premier status - although it should have been more!

When asked if the draw actually felt his a defeat, Daish replied, “Yes, it does, I agree with that, but we’ve got to look at it as a good point now. We can’t do anything about that, it’s probably cost us a few all year, but it’s a point gained.

“The lads have worked very hard, I think we had enough chances to finish that (game) off.”

The Fleet made their attacking intentions known early against a side that arrived in Kent on a ten-match unbeaten run.

Ricky Shakes, partnering Michael Gash up front, was twice released in behind the Harriers’ defence early on, but on both occasions failed to test visiting goalkeeper Adam Bartlett.

But the goalkeeper kept his side in the game, making a string of fine saves, which left the home side frustrated.

A 19^th minute clearance from Fleet goalkeeper Lance Cronin was flicked on by Gash to release Shakes, and after cutting inside two defenders and running into a yellow brick wall, he cut the ball back for Gash, who unleashed a right-footed drive, which was saved low down by the diving goalkeeper.

Cronin made his first save of the game when he beat out a fine right-footed half-volley from Kidderminster striker Stefan Moore.

But Ebbsfleet United deservedly broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after 26 minutes, an incident that reduced Kidderminster to ten-men.

Shakes won the ball just inside Kidderminster’s half and played a lovely one-two with Gash, who released Shakes through on goal.

But he was sent to the ground, thanks to the challenge by last defender Lee Baker, who was shown a straight red card after referee Paul Melin pointed to the penalty spot.

Stacy Long stepped up to crash a right-footed penalty into the right-corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, to score his ninth goal of the season.

However, just past the half-hour mark and Cronin made his second save of the match, getting down low to his right to prevent Moore scoring with an angled right-footed drive. Fleet right-back, Jamie Stevens reacted first to hack the spinning ball away from inside the six-yard box.

But Kidderminster Harriers really should have levelled after 35 minutes when Moore centred from the left and Michael Carr, under pressure, poked a left-footed shot agonisingly past the foot of the near post.

Fleet midfielder Danny Slatter was added to the injury list as he was stretchered off late in the first half, with a suspected groin injury.

Ebbsfleet United missed a hat-full of second half chances, which would have taken them over the 50 point barrier, and virtually sealed their current status.

Inside the opening nine minutes of a one-sided second half, Gash was released in behind the Harriers’ defence by Long, but was denied by a fantastic save from Bartlett, who spread himself to block the shot with his legs.

And the Fleet squandered another chance after 58 minutes when Long played a short corner to the impressive Michael West and his low cross was flashed agonisingly wide of the far post by Leon Crooks, through a crowd of players.

Four minutes later, Bartlett, described afterwards as “the best keeper in the league,” by his thankful manager Mark Yates, made a fine double save to prevent both Long and Gash, following a cut back from substitute Guiseppe Sole.

West then whipped in a cross from the right, which sailed over the goalkeeper, but bounced off the top of the Kidderminster crossbar and Gash’s deflected shot flashed wide, after being put in behind the visitors’ defence.

Bartlett then saved from underneath his crossbar after his clearance fell straight to Long, who returned the ball with interest towards goal from 40-yards with a right-footed drive.

But despite their efforts, the Fleet didn’t get that all-important second goal, and Kidderminster grabbed a point, totally against the run of play, with just seven minutes remaining.

Chris McPhee, who scored The Fleet’s goal at Wembley Stadium in last season’s FA Trophy Final against Torquay United, flicked the ball on for striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, who lashed a right-footed volley into the top right-hand corner.

Considering the Harriers had only created a couple of half-chances during the second half, tonight’s result, certainly felt like a defeat.

“You’ve got to turn that pressure into that second goal, and while it’s still one-nil,” said Daish. “We haven’t got that other one and put the game to bed.

“You can always leave yourself open, whether it’s ten (men), nine, eight. There would be a chance of some sort or incident, whether the referee gives a free-kick, gives a corner or something, they will get an opportunity to put an effort on goal and sometimes you’ve got to get that second goal.

“And to be fair, at this time of the year, playing against ten (men), there’s not a lot of difference, where legs are heavy and minds are tired. There’s pretty much a level playing field and especially when you’re at one-nil.”

Daish was quick to praise his players’ endeavour, considering their hectic end to their league campaign.

He said: “We’re up for it because they’re good lads and I’d take my hat off to them. It could’ve been a great three points and I would’ve carried each one of them off.

“We haven’t got that, we have got a point though. It puts us on 48 (points), that could make a lot of difference for a lot of people. It could be a big point for us.”

Daish takes his side to Broadhall Way to play a grudge match against Stevenage Borough, the side that knocked them out of the FA Trophy at the semi-final stage.

“I’m not interested with issues with Stevenage, I just want to get three points,” said Daish, as he prepares his side for the fifth meeting against Graham Westley’s men.

“I’m not into these vendettas, we just want to get three points, no revenge at all.

“They deserved it over the two-legs, so there’s no need to get into some sort of revenge. We just want to get three points and we’ll have a right good go at it.”

Westley recalled midfielder John Martin by sending Daish a text message last Saturday, but Daish has found a replacement - PASE player Michael West.

Speaking about West, Daish said, “He’s given everyone a boost and (he’s) a cracking little player.

“He is brave as a lion, gets around the pitch, put in a real good performance today because he wanted to make a good impression on his home debut - I thought he did.”

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Jamie Stevens, Darius Charles, Leon Crooks, Sacha Opinel (George Purcell 88), Danny Slatter (Guiseppe Sole 42), Michael West, Mark Ricketts, Stacy Long, Michael Gash, Ricky Shakes.
Subs: Sam Mott, Dean Pooley, Chris Henry.

Goal: Stacy Long 26 (pen)

Booked: Leon Crooks 81

Kidderminster Harriers: Adam Bartlett, Lee Baker, Mark Creighton, Luke Jones, Keith Lowe, Darryl Knights (Russell Penn 45), Dean Bennett (Brian Smikle 55), Michael Carr (Martin Brittain 61), Chris McPhee, Stefan Moore, Matthew Barness-Homer.
Subs: Andrew Ferrell, Craig Armstrong.

Goal: Matthew Barness-Homer 83

Booked: Chris McPhee 90

Sent off: Lee Baker 26

Attendance: 979
Referee: Mr Paul Melin (Aldershot, Hampshire)
Assistants: Mr John O’Brien (Wimbledon Park, London SW18) & Mr Darren Flanagan (Sandy, Bedfordshire)
Fourth Official: Mr Shaun Scott