Ebbsfleet United 1-0 Weymouth - Barrett homes in towards Wembley

EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-0 WEYMOUTH
FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Round
Saturday 2^nd February 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Stonebridge Road

NEIL BARRETT’S third goal of the season has kept Ebbsfleet United’s Wembley dream alive, settling an uninspiring FA Carlsberg Trophy third round tie.

The midfielder found himself inside Weymouth’s penalty area in the 61^st minute to score at the second attempt to settle this dour encounter.

Unfortunately a low crowd of just 818 were at Stonebridge Road to see the Fleet stretch their unbeaten run to ten games, winning their last seven, and more importantly, are included in Monday’s quarter-final draw.

Despite their worldwide interest, it’s such a shame that local fans don’t turn out in force to see this young side in action, with interest in the Blue Square Premier promotion race (via the play-off’s), FA Carlsberg Trophy, Setanta Shield and Kent Senior Cup going into the last three months of the season.

Weymouth, under the guidance of John Hollins for the very first time, having sacked Jason Tindall last Monday, will have an immediate chance to extract revenge as the two sides meet again at the Wessex Stadium on Tuesday night in the Setanta Shield.

But teenage striker John Akinde was the spark that we needed, cutting into the Weymouth penalty area down the left-hand side before passing to midfielder Stacy Long, who was making one of his trademark runs.

Long sprinted towards the by-line and delivered an accurate cross towards Barrett at the far-post and although his first attempt, a header bounced off the chest of visiting goalkeeper Jason Matthews, Barrett rifled the follow up shot into the top left-hand corner.

And speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, the match-winner admitted the game was ugly.

“It wasn’t the best of games but we got there in the end, so we’re very happy,” he said.

“I mean, it wasn’t pretty. We didn’t play the same good stuff that we’ve been playing of late, but these are the kind of games we’ve got to win.

“We probably weren’t winning them earlier in the season so no, we had a few chances come towards the end of the game, so it could have been more but we’re delighted we’re through to the next round.

Shot-shy Weymouth, meanwhile, finished the game with ten-men when their substitute Stuart Douglas was shown a straight red card, upended Long with nine minutes remaining, shortly after squaring up to Fleet’s French left-back Sacha Opinel.

And with the Kent side only three matches (two wins) away from making their first ever appearance at Wembley Stadium, Barrett knows his goal has kept their hopes alive.

“It’s a major focus,” he said. “If we win the games and we get there, that’s something.

“Everyone wants to play there, so like you say, we’re on a decent run at the moment so we’re taking each game as it comes.”

From the first whistle it was clear that the game was either going to be a goal-less bore draw, or settled by just the one goal.

Despite a low-tempo encounter, it was the Kent side that created the most chances.

Michael Bostwick was forced to try his luck from distance inside the opening seven minutes, but his right-footed drive from 35-yards, brought a comfortable save from Matthews.

Weymouth’s only real chance of the game arrived in the 22^nd minute.

Stuart Beavon appeared to be yards offside when he latched onto the ball from over the top of the Fleet defence.

The striker burst past defender Mark Ricketts to race into the penalty area but the defender managed to make up ground to make a diving saving tackle as the striker unleashed an angled shot.

Ebbsfleet United went close on a couple of occasions, but Akinde headed Long’s corner over from six-yards and James Smith came up from his defensive duties to fire into the side netting after Akinde flicked on Rickett’s cross from the right.

Beavon failed to trouble Fleet goalkeeper Lance Cronin just before the break. Chesting Trevor Challis’ left-footed free-kick from the half-way line, the striker turned but his shot lacked power and rolled into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Luckily for the low crowd that braved the cold conditions, the second half was better than the opening 45 minutes.

Highly-rated Akinde teed up a chance for Barrett, but his 25-yard shot flashed past the far-post.

Luke Moore sent Akinde on his way down the left and after cutting into the penalty area, the “gentle giant” rolled a shot into the grounded Matthews at the near post.

And Smith sent a towering header over from just six-yards out, following another free-kick from Long.

But as Fleet boss Liam Daish was preparing a double substitution to spark his side into life, Akinde and Long combined to set up Barrett to break the deadlock.

Halfway through the second half, Moore and Akinde combined to carve open a chance for Chris McPhee, who wasted the opportunity by blazing over.

And when Barrett’s third chance, a right-footed volley, was comfortably saved by Matthews, it was clear that the Dorset visitors were not going to grab an undeserved leveller.

Fleet substitute Chukki Eribenne’s 20-yard curler was comfortably saved by Matthews in the 76^th minute and Weymouth’s exit was sealed when they had Douglas red-carded.

Fleet boss Liam Daish, meanwhile, knows a sign of a good side is one that win’s when not playing well.

“It was a tough game, a different test for us,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“Although they didn’t have too many chances, many shots on goal, it was a hard game but to be fair to the lads we didn’t play well first half but second half I thought we were worth the win and to go through.”

Daish added: “Fair play to the players, they’ve worked very hard. It’s always difficult playing against a side that’s just had a new manager.

“Weymouth gave us a real game today, without really causing a threat.”

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Mark Ricketts, Sacha Opinel, James Smith, Paul McCarthy, Neil Barrett, Michael Bostwick (Chukki Eribenne 67), Stacy Long, Chris McPhee, Luke Moore, John Akinde (George Purcell 89).
Subs: Gary MacDonald, Liam Coleman, Sam Mott.

Goal: Neil Barrett 61

Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Trevor Challis, Joel Kitamarike, Scott Doe, Kyle Critchell, Anton Robinson, Marcus Browning, James Coutts (Stuart Douglas 69), Sido Jombarti (Narada Bernard 89), Stuart Beavon, Michael Malcolm (Gavin McCallum).
Subs: Justin Roberts, David Roberts.

Booked: Marcus Browning 72

Sent Off: Stuart Douglas 81

Attendance: 818
Referee: Mr Steve Creighton (Reading, Berkshire)
Assistants: Mr Steve Daly & Mr Frank Meilack
Fourth Official: Mr Richard Jaye

Today's FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Round Results:
AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Torquay United
Aldershot Town 3-0 Braintree Town
Burton Albion 1-1 Histon
Crawley Town 8-0 Droylsden
Ebbsfleet United 1-0 Weymouth
Halifax Town 0-2 Rushden & Diamonds
Stafford Rangers 2-2 Tamworth
Farsley Celtic  v  York City (Sunday, 3pm)

Visit www.thefa.com on Monday for the FA Carlsberg Trophy quarter-final draw