Ebbsfleet Utd 4 – 1 Wealdstone

Ebbsfleet United

4 - 1

Wealdstone

KO: 15:00 | Sat 10th Sep ’16

It was a tale of two halves at Stonebridge Road as the Stones lost 4-1 to Ebbsfleet United. The game also claimed injuries to Jack Smith and Tom Hamblin to add to the already heavily depleted Stones defence.

First half goals from Jack Powell, Danny Kedwell and Mark Phillips put the game to bed but Wealdstone responded well in the second half and Elliot Benyon grabbed a goal to help pressure the home side, but Anthony Cook’s strike late on sealed the home win.

Stones started with the same side that finished the Weston-super-Mare game so well but they endured a torrid time in a wet and windswept Kent on Saturday.

The game started fairly evenly, but inside 8 minutes Ebbsfleet almost went ahead. From a corner, Kedwell had a free header well stopped by North’s legs and Smith then cleared the ball as it rolled along the goal line.

It was 1-0 though ten minutes later. Ebbsfleet had a free-kick in a crossing position which was headed clear by Koroma, but Powell picked the ball up on the edge of the area, took two touches and smashed a low drive past North who could only get a hand to it.

Ebbsfleet got their second through similar defensive mishaps, this time it was Kedwell who was allowed to take two touches inside the penalty area and he slotted past North into the same corner as the previous goal.

The Stones appeared to capitulate and Ebbsfleet had a chance to make it three on 28 minutes from the penalty spot.  Dean Rance was brought down in the box and Sam Deering stepped up from 12 yards but North dived to his left to save superbly and then hold on to the ball at the second attempt.

Ebbsfleet put Wealdstone under relentless pressure and grabbed their third on 36 minutes. Powell whipped in a corner and the unmarked Phillips headed home.

Wealdstone responded well in the second half and were rewarded with a goal almost immediately. Sam Cox played the ball over the top to Benyon and he brought it down, slotting past keeper Nathan Ashmore for another smart finish for his 8th of the campaign.

Benyon’s goal gave life to the Stones and chances followed from Danny Green when he headed just wide from a corner and also put a free-kick inches over the crossbar.

But Cook sealed the win for the Fleet when he found himself free on the right, he cut past Brown  and crossed the ball in, and Ebbsfleet’s luck was in as his cross looped inside the far post.

WEALDSTONE: North, Smith (Godfrey 26), Brown, McLeod-Uruqhart, Hamblin (c) (McGleish 64), Wellard, Cox, Green, Benyon, Whichelow (Kabba 79), Koroma

Unused subs: Williams, Hutchinson

Bookings: Cox (20)

 Ebbsfleet United 4-1 Wealdstone National League South You do NOT have permission to use this image unless it is accredited to Aqueous Sun Photography. Twitter: @aqueoussunphoto