Ebbsfleet United 4-1 Grays Athletic - Daish heaps praise on local teenage strikers Akinde and Moore

Tuesday 01st January 2008

EBBSFLEET UNITED 4-1 GRAYS ATHLETIC
Blue Square Premier
Tuesday 1^st January 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Stonebridge Road

Play-off chasing Ebbsfleet United brought in the new year with a convincing victory over their local rivals Grays Athletic - in front of their largest crowd of the season at Stonebridge Road.

With no Ryman or Kent League football here in the Garden of England today, a crowd of 1,396 witnessed an impressive display from the Fleet, whose goals came from midfield players Neil Barrett, Stacy Long, who scored a left-footed brace, and Michael Bostwick.

The Kent side, missing skipper Paul McCarthy through suspension, dominated the vast majority of the match, against a Grays Athletic side that held them to a 1-1 draw in Essex only on Boxing Day.

Danny Kedwell, who scored their goal that day, saw his route to goal shut, as the former Welling United star-striker, whose scored only five goals this season, failed to make an impression and was replaced by Luis Cumbers after 67 minutes.

Cumbers, who impressed during his work experience deal from Gillingham with Ryman League Division One South outfit Maidstone United, scoring 11 goals in 13 starts, failed to shine, and former Welling United midfielder Jamie Day only had a seven minute cameo role at the end.

By then Ebbsfleet United, who remain in ninth place in the Blue Square Premier table, with 39 points from 25 games following this win – six points adrift of the final play-off berth - had come out deserved winners.

Ebbsfleet United’s front two were John Akinde, 18, and Luke Moore, 19, and the pair received praise from boss Liam Daish afterwards.

Fleet fans are now seeing Akinde’s potential, with five goals so far this season, having gained valuable experience with Whitstable Town in the Ryman League Division One South.

“Two Gravesend boys, people don’t pick up on that,” Daish told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“As much as they should, I think people should be taking them to their hearts really.

“The three of them, we’ve got three young exciting players in Luke Moore, John Akinde and George Purcell and they’re all local boys and they’re here.

“I think people should pick up more on that but going back on them two, Luke and John, I think they’re absolutely fantastic, they’re honest, they work their socks off.

“John Akinde shows us something, he can use his body so well and his awareness – he played against a very experienced couple of centre halves today.

"I wouldn’t think they’d like to play against John Akinde too many times this year.”

Ebbsfleet United created three chances inside the opening four minutes as Grays Athletic, who inflicted league leaders Aldershot Town’s fifth defeat of the season at the weekend, began on the back-foot.

There were only 72 seconds on the clock when Fleet’s central defender James Smith planted his far-post header over, following Long’s first corner of the game.

Bostwick unleashed a couple of well-struck right-footed volley’s inside the opening 13 minutes; the first was well caught by a visiting supporter at the back of the Swanscombe end terrace; but his second effort saw Grays’ goalkeeper Ross Flitney get his body fully behind the 22-yard effort to make a smart low save.

Another chance came Ebbsfleet’s way when the impressive stand-in skipper, Chris McPhee, nipped in front of Flitney to glance Peter Hawkins’ free-kick past the far-post after 16 minutes.

Barrett twice tried his luck with shots from outside the box, which both flew wide, as the north Kent side dominated this derby.

A cross from McPhee was headed out by Grays defender Simon Downer only as far as French left-back Sacha Opinel, whose left-footed shot flew over from the edge of the box.

But the home faithful were able to celebrate a deserved opener, with 28 minutes and 26 seconds on the clock.

A cross from Opinel was partially cleared by the visiting defence and the ball fell nicely for Barrett to unleash a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which left Flitney rooted to the spot as the ball nestled inside the bottom left-hand corner.

It was Barrett’s first ever goal for Ebbsfleet United, and he was pleased to get off the mark, despite his injury worries.

“I had a couple of efforts before that, so they said in there, practise makes perfect in the end,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It’s been a tough 2007, I’ve been in and out of the team with injuries. Hopefully I can get a run in the team now.”

It took out-played Grays almost 31 minutes to create their first opening as Alan Power blasted his shot high into the side-netting.

Akinde showed his determination as he won the ball off right-sided midfielder Andy Sambrook – who was bundled over beside the touchline some 12-yards from the half-way line.

Sambrook needed to receive treatment from Fleet physio Paul Wilson, whilst play continued, and Fleet doubled their lead with 41 minutes and 32 seconds on the clock, with him still off the pitch.

Moore twisted and turned down the left-hand side of the pitch and he whipped in a cross towards the near-post.

That was met by a cushioned header by McPhee and Long drilled a left-footed shot on the angle into the bottom corner from 20-yards.

With the players now off the pitch, stewards aided Sambrook to be stretchered off the pitch and into the dressing room.

Ebbsfleet United created an early second half chance but Grays Athletic, with the words from their manager Justin Edinburgh still ringing in their ears, fought back.

The one Fleet chance arrived 135 seconds into the half but McPhee flicked the ball past the advancing Flitney and just past the near post after Long rolled the ball into his path.

Grays striker Aaron O’Connor fired past the foot of the near-post after Jack Obersteller’s cross from the left took a couple of ricochets.

But the Essex side scored from their first shot on target with 18 minutes and 23 seconds on the clock.

It was a fine solo goal from Power, on loan from Nottingham Forest, who burst past a couple of Fleet players and drilled a right-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

At this point Grays felt they could salvage something from the game, despite a very poor first half.

But Ebbsfleet United regained control for the last twenty minutes, scoring two more goals to seal a comfortable win.

Long cracked a fierce right-footed shot, which was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the 6’2” former Arsenal and Fulham goalkeeper.

And from his resulting far-post corner, Smith’s shot struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced towards safety.

However, Bostwick made the game safe with his second goal of the season with fourteen minutes remaining.

He met Long’s cross with a clinical right-footed drive, which found the bottom left-hand corner and Ebbsfleet were able to relax despite Grays’ efforts.

And left-sided midfielder Long went on to score his second goal of the game – and his sixth of the season – to bring the Essex side back down to earth.

Following a piece of magic from substitute Purcell, Long picked up the ball and cut into the penalty area before cracking an unstoppable left-footed screamer, which flew into the top left-hand corner as the visiting fans made their way home.

And in stoppage time, Swanscombe resident Purcell saw his long-range left-footed effort flash past the far-post but it was a happy start to the new year for Daish.

“I think (It was) the best performance against a side who, a couple of days ago, beat Aldershot 2-1,” he said.

“There’s a lot of credit to go to the players today. I thought they were absolutely magnificent.”

Daish was full of praise for his goalscorers, Barrett, Long and Bostwick.

“Pleased for Neil,” said Daish. “He’s had a tough start to the season what with injuries and trying to get a bit of form and that.

“To get his goal I’m really pleased for him. It’s nice to see him enjoying himself and he enjoyed it against Stafford and he’s crowned a good display today with a goal.”

On Bostwick’s distribution, Daish added: “We see it in training, he can strike a ball.

“He had a couple of efforts in the first half. Out of nothing he’s just hit (it) first time – a great finish for the goal.

“We needed that as well, at 2-1, it could easily give them a little bit of onus, we needed that, so scored at a crucial time.”

And on star-midfielder Long, Daish said: “He’s a real footballer. He gets a little bit of stick because sometimes the physical side, sometimes heading it, he doesn’t really like to head it but you live with that because he gives you that bit of quality.”

Daish revealed the extent of McPhee’s injury, adding: “Hopefully it’s not a nasty injury. He got clattered and he’s hurt his ankle and knee but hopefully it’s settled down. But he’s a fit lad and I’m pretty sure he’s a good healer as well.”

Daish was delighted that his side remained unbeaten over the three games over the festive period. He kept the same starting line-up from the side that sealed a 1-0 win at Stafford Rangers at the weekend, courtesy of Akinde’s last-gasp strike.

He said: “For us to pick up seven points over the Christmas period is a great achievement.”

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Mark Ricketts, Peter Hawkins, James Smith, Sacha Opinel, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Neil Barrett, John Akinde (Chukki Eribenne 86), Luke Moore (George Purcell 84), Chris McPhee (Liam Coleman 62).
Subs: Raphael Nade, Rob French.

Goals: Neil Barrett 29, Stacy Long 42, 87, Michael Bostwick 76

Booked: Peter Hawkins 40, Michael Bostwick 67, John Akinde 72

Grays Athletic: Ross Flitney, Simon Downer, Santos Gaia, Jamie Stuart, Andy Sambrook (Michael Standing 45), Ian Selley, Alan Power, Ben Watson, Jack Obersteller (Jamie Day 83), Aaron O’Connor, Danny Kedwell (Luis Cumbers 67).
Subs: Jon Ashton, Bradley Gibbons

Goal: Alan Power 64

Booked: Simon Downer 81

Attendance: 1,396
Referee: Mr Brendan Malone (Salisbury, Wiltshire)
Assistants: Mr Sam Lewis & Mr Robert Smith
Fourth Official: Mr Nigel Lugg (Chipstead, Surrey)