Match Report: Ebbsfleet United

It was the Fleet who looked the more likely to score in the first ten minutes, but the Stones had carved out a two goal advantage by the time 21 minutes had passed.

Early on, Nathan Harness came well out of his goal. Although Kwesi Appiah got the ball past him, Taylor Foran was lurking and cleaned up. Shortly after this, Appiah got into a decent position and pulled the ball back to former Stone Charlie Seaman whose low effort was on target but Harness made a decent save to concede a corner.

Then on 13 minutes, Deon Moore played an excellent ball into Muhammadu Faal. Faal was under pressure and his deflected shot was parried by Matt Hall only for former Ebbsfleet player Jephte Tanga to arrive and steer the ball into the net.

Eight minutes later, the Stones doubled their advantage with a fine route one goal. Harness kicked the perfect ball straight downfield which Moore allowed to bounce before lifting it over Hall and into the net.

Riley Court had a drive towards the near post easily stopped by Hall and then Moore did well to get to the byline. He pulled the ball back towards Faal who fired the ball over the bar.

The Fleet made a double change at the break, bringing on Ronny Nelson and Josh Coley for Ben Coker and Max Ehmer. And within minutes of the restart, both goalkeepers had made excellent saves. The first was by Hall as he flung himself to his left to deny Court whose curling effort looked to be heading for the top corner. Then at the other end, Seaman put a low ball into Appiah whose shot took a deflection and from close range, Harness diverted the ball over the bar.

Appiah was involved again when he sent the ball towards the back post. Dominic Samuel was stretching but he couldn’t divert it on target. Not long after this, Samuel drew a superb save from Harness although Samuel was in an offside position.

Then on 69 minutes, Maidstone added a third. Tanga’s cross from the right might have been intended for Moore but the unfortunate Josh Passley put the ball into his own net.

Ebbsfleet had an opportunity to pull one back when Seaman ran down the right and played a low ball into Samuel. Samuel was in a good position but he put the ball wide of the post.

Faal neatly bought the ball down when he had his back to goal. He turned and rolled the ball into substitute John Gilbert who didn’t really get hold of his effort which went well wide. And Faal’s last notable contribution of the evening, before he was replaced by David Agbontohoma, saw him force Hall into a parry, with a shot from distance.

Maidstone United: Jephte Tanga 13, Deon Moore 21, Josh Passley (O.G.) 69

Ebbsfleet United: –

Maidstone United: 1. Nathan Harness, 2. David Sesay (20. Antony Papadopoulos 75), 5. George Fowler, 24. Taylor Foran, 3. Leo Hamblin, 8. Sam Corne, 6. TJ Bramble (10. John Gilbert 64), 7. Jephte Tanga, 17. Riley Court, 9. Deon Moore (23. Hamzad Kargbo 76), 22. Muhammadu Faal (15. David Agbontohoma 87). Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden.

Ebbsfleet United: 1. Matt Hall, 2. Charlie Seaman, 3. Ben Coker (21. Josh Coley 45), 4. Jake Hessenthaler (8. Toby Edser 62), 5. Max Ehmer (12. Ronny Nelson 45), 7. Josh Passley, 10. Kwesi Appiah (19. Finlay Barnes 70), 14. Dominic Samuel, 18. Gene Kennedy, 22. Ben Chapman, 24. Mustapha Olagunju. Subs not used: 9. Aaron Cosgrave, 20. Maxx Manktelow, 25. Jonathan MacAulay.