Ebbsfleet United 4-1 Dartford

EBBSFLEET UNITED 4-1 DARTFORD
Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Tuesday 29^th January 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Stonebridge Road

BLUE SQUARE Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United stretched their unbeaten run to nine games as they knocked out their local rivals Dartford to reach the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup.

An attendance of 1,287 - with at least 400 vocal Dartford fans making the five-mile trip - saw Ebbsfleet United come back from a goal down to seal a comfortable win.

Both managers, with more important matters on their minds, fielded strong sides for this quarter-final clash.

But it was Dartford who drew first blood, taking a shock lead against the run of play inside 12 minutes.

But Fleet midfielder Liam Coleman went on to cancel out Phil Williams’ opener to level proceedings twenty minutes later before striker Raphael Nade headed a goal early in the second half to give the hosts the lead before a brace from Chukki Eribenne ensured it will be the Fleet fans that own the bragging rights.

Both sides went into this game on top-form with Ebbsfleet United making six changes to their side that ended Burton Albion’s unbeaten away record on Saturday.

But Dartford, still topping the Ryman League Division One North table, following their hard-fought 1-0 win over defensive minded side Arlesey Town at Princes Park, made nine changes tonight, with only goalkeeper Tony Kessell and Williams retaining their shirts.

The Darts were without former Fleet midfielder Eddie McClements (groin) and defender John Guest (ankle), whilst Fleet defender Gary MacDonald (Achiles) will be pleased to get through 64 minutes following his injury that he picked up on the opening day of the season.

Ebbsfleet United should have taken the lead from their first attempt on goal inside six minutes but Eribenne’s header bounced agonisingly off the foot of the right-hand post.

But Dartford grabbed the lead against the run of play, through Williams’ first ever goal for the club.

The former Dulwich Hamlet winger ran at the heart of the home side’s defence before cracking a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty box, which took a wicked deflection of French defender Sacha Opinel.

The ball looped over goalkeeper Sam Mott and dropped into the middle of the goal, right in front of the Ebbsfleet fans at the Plough End of the ground - delighting the visiting fans’ at the other end.

Ebbsfleet’s reaction, meanwhile, was almost immediate but Dartford had Kessell to thank for blocking Eribenne’s left-footed shot with his legs as he advanced off his line.

And at the other end, Dartford called Mott into action, making a comfortable save from Junior Kadi’s right-footed free-kick from 25-yards.

Mott, who spent a loan spell with Ryman League Division One South outfit Croydon Athletic, thwarted Dave Moore after the midfielder got in behind the full-time side’s defence.

But Coleman’s first goal of the season brought the Fleet deservedly back on level terms with 31 minutes and 27 seconds on the clock.

Latching onto a through ball from Eribenne, Coleman cracked a shot past Kessell to find the right-hand corner of the net.

A hat-trick of Fleet chances followed; Coleman struck the post; George Purcell’s shot sailed over; and Raphael Nade sent a header from six-yards over the top of the far-post.

So Ebbsfleet United deservedly took the lead from their first corner of the season half - after just 61 seconds.

Coleman’s far-post corner was met by a towering Nade header, which flew across Kessell to find the far-corner.

Dartford’s third choice striker, Tom Bradbrook, meanwhile, was never going to beat Mott after he cut in from the right.

But the Fleet increased their lead further through Eribenne’s first of the night after 59 minutes.

The striker burst past Dartford defender Tommy Osborne and with his right-foot sent his shot past Kessell into the left-corner.

Bradbrook flashed a shot agonisingly past the foot of the right-post soon after, following a low cross from Moore on the right.

And at the other end Coleman was forced to put his shirt over his head in shame after blazing Michael Bostwick’s cut-back over the bar when it looked easier to score with fifteen minutes left.

Kessell pulled off his best save of the match when he dived to tip Purcell’s left-footed shot around the post from 22-yards but Eribenne wrapped up the victory with ten minutes left, drilling a left-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner to score his seventh goal of the season.

Both camps take the positives out of this match as they prepare for more important games at the weekend.

Ebbsfleet United welcome their Blue Square Premier rivals Weymouth to Stonebridge Road in the third round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, whilst Dartford welcome Northwood to Princes Park as they bid to clinch promotion into the Ryman Premier League.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk shall preview those two games - with reaction from tonight’s match - later in the week.

Elsewhere, Bromley, who have lifted the Kent Senior Cup for the past two years, joined the Fleet in the last four courtesy of their 4-2 win over Tonbridge Angels at Hayes Lane.

A hat-trick from Danny Hockton and a superb half-volley from Gareth Williams saw the Blue Square South side through.

Angels netted through Carl Rook and Akwasi Edusei.

Ebbsfleet United: Sam Mott, Mark Ricketts, Sacha Opinel, Gary MacDonald (Nathan Simpson 64), James Smith, Neil Barrett (Dan Stubbs 82), Liam Coleman, Michael Bostwick (Lee Maskell 82), Raphael Nade, Chukki Eribenne, George Purcell.
Subs: Chris McPhee, Lance Cronin.

Goals: Liam Coleman 32, Rapheal Nade 46, Chukki Eribenne 59, 80

Dartford: Tony Kessell, Seun Eferakorho, Mark Green, Tommy Osborne, Richard Avery, Luke May (Dan Westerman 64), Dave Moore, Junior Kadi, Tom Bradbrook, Yohance Lewis, Phil Williams.
Subs: Jamie Coyle, Steve Norman, Ryan Hayes, Darren Ibrahim.

Goal: Phil Williams 12

Attendance: 1,287
Referee: Mr Phillip Knight (Canterbury)
Assistants: Mr Simon Finnigan (Maidstone) & Mr Daniel Wyatt (Orpington)