Bishop's Stortford 3-2 Ebbsfleet
United
It seems Ebbsfleet
United had one eye on Saturday's big Cup game as they put in a poor
performance and lost 3-2 away at Bishop's Stortford.
The scoreline
flattered the Fleet in the end as the hosts dominated throughout the
match. Stortford named the same eleven that beat Hayes and Yeading
3-2 the previous Saturday while the Fleet made two changes. Billy
Bricknell was rested in place of Chris Sessegnon and Dean Rance
returned from suspension to take his place alongside Daryl McMahon
and Stacy Long. Alex Osborn was the casualty after picking up a knock
against Gosport. The young on-loan attacker should be back to full
fitness ahead of the game against Dartford.
In an open start
to the game, neither side really got into any sort of pattern until
just before the ten minute mark when Stortford struck. Veteran
striker Cliff Akurang received the ball, back to goal, on the edge of
the area and a superb swivel and shot with his left foot left Preston
Edwards no chance in the Fleet goal. A goal fit to grace the highest level.
Anthony Cook came
the closest for the visitors as he cut in on his right, but could
only direct his effort straight at Joe Wright in the Stortford goal.
The Fleet tried to get back into it, but could get nowhere near
Stortford with their neat passing and play. It didn't help that every
time the Fleet got forward, they gave the ball away!
Brilliant work
from the hosts almost lead to goal number two. Influential midfielder
Reece Prestedge and Ashley Miller combined, the latter fizzed in a
brilliant ball for Akurang but he could only direct over from inside
the area. Defender Callum McNaugton had another chance soon after,
but couldn't quite make contact with the ball, however the hosts soon
doubled their advantage.
Midfielder Matt
Johnson's free kick was met by Sean Francis who headed across the
six-yard box and of course Akurang was there to make it two! The
striker fired home from inside the six-yard box to give Stortford a
comfortable lead.
Full back Joe Howe
limped off the field and was replaced by Osei Sankofa – the Fleet
will be hoping Howe is fit for Saturday! Akurang was taken off soon
with a slight hamstring strain. He'll be a huge miss for Stortford if
he is to miss their big FA Cup tie on Saturday!
Despite one of
their key men going off, the hosts were still in control of the match
and former Fleet full back Johnny Herd went close with a long range
drive before Kyle Vassell went close. The youngster, being trailed by
a Premier League Club, just needed to grow a few inches as he
stretched to get on the end of George Sykes' brilliant cross.
Anthony Cook's
late free-kick was struck straight at Wright.
HT: 2-0.
The hosts put the
game seemingly out of reach nine minutes into the second half as Herd
beat two men and set up Sykes, who's neat touch on was met by
Vassell. The youngster put the ball past Edwards from close range,
and it was nothing more than Stortford deserved. The Blues were in
total control and it could, and should really have been a rout.
Prestedge sent an
effort over the bar and Sykes acrobatically sent an overhead kick
into the fans behind the goal.
Anthony Church was
sent off late on after receiving two yellows. The midfielder was
booked midway through the first half for simulation, and then booked
late on for a foul on Cook. Cook's free kick brushed the top netting
as it went over.
Shane Huke went
close from a corner as his header went just over, but he managed to
grab a goal just a couple of minutes later.
Bricknell laid the ball across and the central
defender took one touch and sent a volley out of Wright's reach and
into the corner. Of course it was too little too late for the Fleet
who only started to play when Church was sent off, but it didn't stop
Cook adding to his goals tally.
The winger skipped
past two challenges and unleashed a bullet into the corner from 25
yards. Any chance of the Fleet getting an unlikely (and undeserved!)
draw were dashed as the referee blew for full time as soon as
Stortford restarted.
The win pushed the
hosts up to second just three points behind Eastleigh with a game in
hand, but the Fleet dropped down to seventh after Dover demolished
Eastbourne 4-0. Stortford travel to the New Lawn to face Forest Green
on Saturday in the FA Cup 4th qualifying round; a bit of a
reward for the fans, and a great chance of progressing against a side
looking worse for wear at the moment. The Fleet are also in FA Cup
action, at home to North Kent rivals Dartford.
Team: Edwards,
Howe (Sankofa), Huke, Lorraine, Palmer, McMahon (Bricknell), Rance,
Long, Cook, Sessegnon, May (Thalassitis).
Subs not used: Hall,
Corcoran.
Attendance: 511
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