Ebbsfleet United 1-2 Millwall - Daish: We're coming to the boil

But Coca-Cola League Two neighbours Millwall grabbed a 2-1 win in front of a crowd of 1,671 at Stonebridge Road.

The Lions clinically opened the scoring, with their first shot on goal, with only 123 seconds on the clock.Ashley Grimes’ flick on from the half-way line found Ryan Smith and he swept the ball across the pitch to Chris Hackett.

The right-winger burst forward before drilling an angled right-footed shot across Lance Cronin and into the bottom far-corner, in front of the vocal Fleet fans at the seated end.

Cronin comfortably plucked a delicate lob out of the air from Lions’ striker Neil Harris and later on Scott Barron lashed a left-footed shot well wide from twenty-yards after Chris Hackett cut Ryan Smith’s corner to him on the edge of the box.

But the FA Carlsberg Trophy and Kent Senior Cup holders created a couple of half chances before clawing level after 31 minutes.

The impressive right-winger, new signing Ricky Shakes, laid the ball off to Neil Barrett, who left goalkeeper Lenny Pidgely rooted to the spot, as he drilled a right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner from 25-yards.

The goalkeeper, however, made amends with a brilliant one handed save six minutes later when he somehow kept out a diving bullet header from skipper James Smith, who threw himself at a high curling free-kick towards the far post from George Purcell.

Daish introduced local hero John Akinde, 18, into the fray at the half-time interval and this sparked the Kent side into life.

A ball over the top, inside the opening two minutes from Darius Charles, sent new signing Michael Gash through on goal and with Pidgely advancing quickly off his line, the former Cambridge City striker sent his right-footed lob just over from 25-yards.

But Millwall, fielding seven players with first team experience, regained the lead after 52 minutes, through youth team striker Gary Bowes.

A mistake from Barrett sent the lightening quick striker on his way and despite the assistant on the stand side waving his flag for offside, play was allowed to continue and with only Cronin to beat the striker drilled his shot in off the foot of the right-post from 12-yards.

The Fleet almost levelled when a Craig Stone right-footed volley from 20-yards flashed just past the left-hand post.

Cronin got down quickly to his right to thwart Harris from scoring with a low right-footed shot, which was destined to find the bottom far corner.

The much sought after Akinde rolled a left-footed angled shot from twenty-yards into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms, following a slick passing move involving Frenchman Sacha Opinel, Gash and Purcell.

Akinde was then played in by a ball around the back of Millwall’s defence by James Smith but Pidgely made a smart low save at the foot of his near post.

Bowes and Harris both had chances to increase the Lions’ lead but it was the Blue Square Premier hosts that created numerous chances to level.

Fleet substitute Stacy Long, who is now sporting a beard, had three attempts on goal, the best one was a left-footed chip that agonisingly dropped onto the roof of the net.

Millwall, watched by at least 500 fans, had defender Barren to thank for blocking Shakes’ near-post shot off the line after Akinde squared the ball across the goalmouth to his new team-mate, instead of going for goal himself.

But Daish was pleased that his side impressed the big crowd at Stonebridge Road tonight.

“I enjoyed that!” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “It was a good game, a good work out. Both teams were energetic and enthusiastic and it was played at a really good tempo. There was a lot of positives out there.

“I like the way we played (especially when) we went down by an early goal, but our disappointment didn’t last too long (and) we bounced back.

“It was a bit of a mistake for the second. Everything about tonight was good I thought.

“That’s given us a little bit of a test because it was nice and quick and sharp and both teams closed down and that’s what you want as you’re nearing the start.”

The Fleet welcome Ryman Premier League side Maidstone United - 4-3 winners at Whitstable Town tonight - to Stonebridge Road on Saturday, before they kick-off their Blue Square Premier campaign at home to a Mansfield Town side that’s sampling life in non-league football following their relegation last season.

Looking ahead to The Stones' visit, Daish said: “You don’t want to go through pre-season losing every game, but you don’t want to go through pre-season winning every game and not being tested.

“I think we’ve tried to prepare right as possible and we’re coming to the boil nicely.

“Organisation wise, everyone seems to know what they’re doing, whether they’re new to the side or have been here before.

“Hopefully come August 16^th we’ll be physically and mentally prepared for our first home game, which if we believe, we’ve got a good chance starting off with a good three points and a good performance in front of our home crowd.”

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Mark Ricketts (Dean Pooley 56), Sacha Opinel, Craig Stone, James Smith, Darius Charles, Ricky Shakes (Kwesi Appiah 88), Neil Barrett (Jamie Hand 77), Michael Gash (Jake Richardson 88), Luke Moore (John Akinde 45), George Purcell (Stacy Long 66).
Subs: Sam Mott, Peter Hawkins, Gary MacDonald.

Goal: Neil Barrett 31

Millwall: Lenny Pidgely, Jack Sim (Gary Bowes 45) , Scott Barron, Danny Spiller, Pat O’Connor, Andy Frampton, Chris Hackett, Danny Keane (Danny Johnson 84), Neil Harris, Ashley Grimes, Ryan Smith.
Subs: Lyle Taylor, Laurie Walker, Charlie Reed.

Goals: Chris Hackett 3, Gary Bowes 52

Attendance: 1,671
Referee: Mr Ian Cooper
Assistants: Mr Lee Vennamore & Mr Paul Harris
Fourth Official: Mr Ollie Jackson