Stevenage Borough 3-2 Ebbsfleet United - Fleet come back from the dead to keep dream alive

However, all seemed lost at the interval at Broadhall Way today, as Stevenage Borough, a side that are fifth in the Blue Square Premier table and nineteen games unbeaten, tore the Fleet to shreds as they played some scintillating football during a one-sided first half.

Stevenage Borough looked to be on course to comfortably knock the holders out as goals from Steve Morrison - his 27^th goal of the season - and his strike partner Lee Boylan - gave the Hertfordshire side a two-goal lead.

But the half-time introduction of Derek Duncan - coming on for Danny Slatter, who is clearly not ready following his lengthy injury nightmare - sparked the Fleet into life as Duncan snuffed out the threat that was Andy Drury, who terrorised the Fleet down the right.

Ebbsfleet United’s one and only chance in a very poor first half performance arrived after just 12 seconds when Guiseppe Sole brought a smart low diving save from Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day.

But Stevenage Borough broke the deadlock inside the opening seven minutes - not the best of starts from the Fleet - through the prolific striker Morrison.

Lawrie Wilson threw the ball over the flat-footed Fleet defence for Drury, who cut in along the right by-line, and he lifted his cross over the out-stretched arms of Lance Cronin and Morrison was left unmarked at the far post to power his header into the net from inside the six-yard box.

Ebbsfleet United were all at see from that moment on and Mitchell Cole flashed a shot past the right-hand post after Stacy Long failed to clear away Drury’s corner from the left.

During the first half, Stevenage were cutting open the Fleet defence like a knife through butter and if it wasn’t for Cronin then the scoreline would have been embarrassing at the interval.

A penetrating 28^th minute run from Cole saw the midfielder slice open the Fleet defence through the middle and his low drive was brilliantly tipped around the post by Cronin, diving low to his left.

But shockingly poor defending from the Kent side led to Stevenage doubling their lead after 33 minutes as the Fleet appeared to be dead and buried.

A cross from Scott Laird from the left should have been bread and butter for either Fleet left-back Sacha Opinel or Cronin at the far post, but a lack of communication brought suicidal defending.

The French defender miss-kicked his clearance and Darius Charles’ clearance failed miserably to bounce towards safety of the touch-line, being picked up by Cole and his cross was met by a precise left-footed drive from Boylan, which found the bottom left-hand corner.

Stocky Stevenage defender Mark Roberts nodded Drury’s corner onto the roof of the net before Cronin kept the Fleet in the tie, making two excellent saves late in the first half.

Wilson worryingly got in behind the Fleet defence down the right, ghosting past Opinel, and seemed destined to score, but Cronin stood tall at his near post to save with his legs.

And from the resulting corner, taken by Drury, who was “up for it” against one of his former clubs, Murphy’s near post flick, was turned away by the diving Cronin, with a crowd of players in and around him.

But two-nil is always a dangerous scoreline, and Fleet boss Liam Daish withdrew Slatter for Duncan, who ensured Drury had a much quieter second half.

Thankfully, the Fleet raised the tempo of their game and went in search for a goal that would enhance their chances of a Wembley return.

Long fired a 25-yard drive into Day’s grateful arms, following a Luke Moore knock down but Boylan really should have put the game beyond Fleet’s reach immediately afterwards, but he drove his shot past the post following Morrison’s knock down.

Fleet striker Michael Gash headed Duncan’s cross down and agonisingly past the right-hand post as things looked promising.



COME ON THE FLEET:  A photograph (taken by mobile phone from the press box) following the players warm-up, shows the number of supporters that Ebbsfleet United took to Stevenage today.
Photograph: Stephen McCartney - www.kentishfootball.co.uk

But the Fleet, roared on by around one thousand passionate supporters, deservedly pulled the goal back after 61 minutes, courtesy of a goal that simplifies their attitude against the so called bigger clubs.

Midfielder Neil Barrett is therefore a hero for going in where it hurts to ensure he headed the ball past Day from six-yards to give the Kent side a lifeline.

Mark Ricketts’ cross from the left was flicked on by Gash and Barrett scooped low to head the ball past Day to send the excellent Fleet fans wild.

There was, however, concern for Barrett as he laid motionless just inside the six-yard box after bravely going in amongst the defenders boots and after a three minute delay, was stretchered off the pitch to a standing ovation.

With such excellent support from the travelling fans’ in the all-seated South Stand behind Day’s goal, the Fleet, buoyed on by Barrett’s injury - believed to be a broken jaw - took the game to Stevenage and should have levelled just seven minutes later.

Michael Bostwick, who won the FA Trophy with the Fleet last season, produced a stunning diving goal-line headed clearance to prevent Long scoring with a delightful chip over a crowded penalty area.

Referee Stuart Attwell, meanwhile, made some dubious decisions and one example was in the 70^th minute when substitute Ricky Shakes drilled a right-footed angled drive towards goal, which clearly deflected wide for a corner, but the match official awarded the home side a goal kick, much to the disapproval of the travelling supporters.

He also failed to send Opinel off inisde stoppage time for an alleged stamp on Roberts, which sparked emotions inside the Stevenage penalty area.

However, imagine the pride and ecstasy that engulfed Fleet followers as their side fought back to level after 73 minutes.

And what a stunning strike if was from Long, a player who can produce such moments.

Shakes run and cross from the right wasn’t cleared by the Stevenage defence and the ball dropped nicely for Long, 25-yards from goal, and the midfielder delicately stroked a right-footed shot which sailed over the defence and goalkeeper Day and dipped just underneath the crossbar to deservedly bring Ebbsfleet level.

Ecstasy soon turned to agony as Stevenage broke Fleet’s hearts by scoring from a corner with just nine minutes left - a rare second half attempt on goal.

Cronin couldn’t prevent Opinel’s ball back from going out for a corner, which was whipped in by Drury from the right and this was met by a thumping header from midfielder David Bridges, which found its way into the corner of the net.

Daish was sent to the stands by Attwell for what he says was kicking a drinks bottle onto the pitch in frustration.

The second half performance from the Fleet was positive and a rousing performance - and the same atmosphere - at Stonebridge Road next Saturday will ensure the Kent side return to Wembley Stadium.

Sadly, the heroic Fleet side couldn’t find the equaliser during nine and a half minutes of time added on.

However, that period of time was tarnished by some moronic person who threw a flair from outside the stadium, from the corner of the ground, which landed just a couple of yards outside the Stevenage Borough penalty area - yards away from the players.

Whoever threw that missile has to be caught and punished appropriately.

That incident, however, ruined what turned out to be an excellent game of football - a game that is not over and the Fleet are more than capable of clawing back that one goal deficit to return to Wembley Stadium on 9^th May.

And boss Daish hasn’t given up hope of progressing through to the final.

“I would’ve at half-time,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “But I suppose you can be a little bit disappointed of getting back to two-all and conceding from the set-play. That’s what happens sometimes at this level.”

But Daish accepted that his side’s first half performance was poor, as Stevenage Borough looked destined to complete a rout before the break.

“We struggled to cope with it and I said to the lads after, we’re not bad, we’re a decent side, when we come and anticipate things and attack balls and to be fair we didn’t.

“Our two centre halves didn’t really perform first half, like our full backs, but credit to the players, second half, we were more on the front foot, went and met the ball, was more aggressive and that gave us a little bit of a platform to get back into the game.”

Daish, however, admitted he shouldn’t have started Slatter in a three-man midfield.

“I just think Danny was unlucky,” he said. “The two goals that we conceded was nothing to do with Danny.

“I can’t see how we can concede goals like that, they were very soft goals but I had to change it a little bit and matched them up and Derek came on and showed a little bit of composure and got about the pitch.

“Maybe, in hindsight, I made the wrong decision myself in selection, but you don’t want to change much when we’ve beaten the league leaders and you don’t want to tamper it too much.

“Maybe I should have, but it’s all hindsight at the end of the day.

"If you had called 3-2 on the table, I think there would have been a few takers and I’d probably have been one of them!”

Daish explained why he was sent off for the third time this season.

“The third goal went in, I done the terrible thing of kicking a bottle in frustration and it went onto the pitch,” he said.

“I’m really sorry about that. It seems you can throw flares, grenades and all sorts and get away with it, but if a bottle goes on there you get sent to the stand.

“But a bit pedantic on the fourth official’s side but hopefully they’ll see reason for that.”

Stevenage Borough: Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Mark Roberts, Michael Bostwick, Scott Laird, Andy Drury (Mark Albrighton 90), Darren Murphy (Gary Mills 83), David Bridges, Mitchell Cole (Peter Vincenti 80), Lee Boylan, Steve Morrison.
Subs: Ashley Bayes, Calum Willock.

Goals: Steve Morrison 7, Lee Boylan 33, David Bridges 81

Booked: Darren Murphy 56, Michael Bostwick 90, Mark Roberts 90

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Mark Ricketts, Leon Crooks, Darius Charles, Sacha Opinel, Neil Barrett (James Smith 64), Danny Slatter (Derek Duncan 45), Stacy Long, Luke Moore, Michael Gash, Giseppe Sole (Ricky Shakes 60).
Subs: Sam Mott, Matthew Judge.

Goals: Neil Barrett 61, Stacy Long 73

Booked: Luke Moore 60, Sacha Opinel 66, Michael Gash 67.

Attendance: 2,344
Referee: Mr Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton, Warwickshire)
Assistants: Mr Michael Bingam (Leamington Spa, Warwickshire) & Mr Edward Smart (Smethwick, Birmingham)
Fourth Official: Mr J Hopkins