KENTISH FOOTBALL ARE SO PROUD OF THE FLEET: Daish hails his magnificent heroes

HEROIC UNDERDOGS Ebbsfleet United are just NINETY MINUTES away from playing at Wembley Stadium for the very first time, thanks to a rousing display that left Aldershot Town stunned yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Fleet go into next Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy semi-final second leg showdown in Hampshire with that vital two-goal advantage after that famous 3-1 victory in front of a passion filled Stonebridge Road.

A crowd of 2,483 - their largest of the season - saw a determined Fleet side seal a victory over the Blue Square Premier leaders.

Two first half penalties from Chris McPhee sent the north Kent heroes on their way.

Junior Mendes had brought the Shots back from the dead after 76 minutes, stabbing home from a yard out, but Fleet skipper Paul McCarthy netted his first goal of the season just 126 seconds later to send the Kent side within touching distance of Wembley.

Fleet boss Liam Daish hailed his heroes as he knows a win - or a draw - at the hostile Recreation Ground next Saturday is needed.

“Very pleased to put ourselves in that position, going down to Aldershot next week,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his side’s heroic display.

But he knows his side should have been playing against nine men as David Winfield and Anthony Charles were both only booked for fouling Chukki Eribenne and John Akinde that led to McPhee netting those two clinically taken spot-kicks.

“Yes, we despatched the penalty and gone one up but it that’s not a sending off I don’t know what is,” fumed Daish.

“But as I said credit to the players they got on with it and we got ahead again, or got further ahead.

“I don’t know what it is whether it’s because we’re Ebbsfleet, I know if it’s the other way it might be a different decision but both times both defenders are last man.

“The fourth official says that the second goal, he (Akinde) was going away from goal or the first goal wasn’t, so which one is it?

“But I’m not going to harp on too much about that, there’s more positives to talk about with the way the lads performed today.”

Reflecting on the game itself, Daish said: “We had a couple of chances early in the second half that we could have gone another one ahead, or possible two with Chukki (Eribenne) and Stacy (Long) just dragging their shots wide.

“The goal that we conceded was a bit disappointing for us, the way we defended but to be fair to us again we bounced back and that was a great goal from Paul McCarthy.

“Macca’s made himself get up into the opposing penalty area and finished with aplomb.”

Praising the 36 year-old captain colossus, Daish added: He keeps himself fit. When you get to his age it’s the games and the hunger that keeps you fit and playing well not so much day in day out training.”

What was also great yesterday was the fact that support could be heard from three sides of Stonebridge Road - not just the small band of fans at the Plough End.

And Daish recognised the support, saying: “I thought they were magnificent. They’ve been brilliant all week building up (to the game).

“You could see the people coming in and buying tickets and hopefully we’ve had a few floaters around that have come in today and seen us beat a top of the league side that are looking like they’re going back to the Football League.

“We’ve scored three goals and our first half performance was absolutely magnificent.”

It back to the bread and butter of the Blue Square Premier on Tuesday night with a home game against Rushden & Diamonds.

And Daish said: “We can’t make many changes because we haven’t got that sort of squad but we’ve got a big game against Rushden.

“They just keep coming thick and fast and I’m sure we’ll be approaching that exactly the same way as we approach every game.”

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Ebbsfleet United v Rushden & Diamonds
Blue Square Premier
Tuesday 11^th March 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9GN