Ebbsfleet United welcomed Harrow borough of the Ryman Premier league to Stonebridge Road for the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon in the quest to repeat the historic run of 2008, where Fleet went all the way to winning the trophy at Wembley.

The Fleet made numerous changes from the last league game with Jonathan Miles, Louis John, Dean Rance and Charlie Sheringham coming into the starting XI for the game.

The changes to the side did not appear to make a difference for the fleet as they took a 2^nd minute lead. Charlie Sheringham was bought down in the centre of the pitch 30 yards out, Jack powell stepped up and curled in a tremendous free kick off the keepers left hand post. It was a ferocious start by the Fleet with the confidence of the early goal as Powell’s right wing cross was nearly deflected into his own goal by Harrow defender Michael Peacock.

The Harrow defence was all at sea as Deering should have made it 2 after 10 mins. Sheringham put him through down the inside left channel but Patel in the Harrow goal spread himself well to stop Deering from passing the ball into the bottom left hand corner as the chance was spurned.

Ebbsfleet made their dominance count on 20 minutes with a second by Bradley Bubb. Sheringham was influential again, slotting the ball inside the left back for Bubb to take a touch and shoot towards goal. Patel in the Harrow Borough goal dived over the ball as the ball went in at the near post.

The game appeared over as a contest as Fleet extended their lead to 3 on 22 minutes. Powell’s right wing corner found Sheringham rising highest at the back post to nod down and over the keeper. The visitors had the right to feel aggrieved, with their left back being off the pitch, having been asked to replace it for minimal blood being on the sleeve, which had Fleet boss Daryl Mcmahon laughing.

Harrow were really struggling down their left hand side with Powell and Shields causing all sorts of trouble. Dean Rance was the next to go close, heading powell’s corner towards goal, causing Patel in the harrow goal to paw the ball away in a melee of players. Harrow were offering little going forward, with the Fleet defence coping with crosses into the box with ease as we approached half time. The visitors forced Miles into a comfortable save in the 43^rd minute as Peacock’s flick header was palmed behind for a corner.

Fleet could have and should have made it 4  in the 45^th minute. Powell combined to put Deering in but instead of shooting, he squared the ball to the offside Sheringham who put the ball wide, when it would have been easier to put the ball in the back of the net.

Fleet started the second half with the same attacking verve of the first half with Deering skipping past two challenges before dipping in and firing a shot at Patel after great combination play from Rance and Powell on the edge of their own area had set him free. Bar the Deering effort, Fleet appeared to be lacking some drive and Harrow reduced the arrears on 54 minutes in spectacular fashion, Andy Lomas drove forward from left back before passing inside to Joshua Webb. The left winger, took a touch inside before bending a spectacular strike beyond a motionless Jonathan Miles into the top right hand corner for a goal out of nothing, to give the visitors a lifeline in the game.

Fleet won a penalty in the 64^th minute. After a series of pin ball, Powell flicked into the path of Deering, who was sent sprawling to the turf by David Taylor. Anthony Cook, fired home the penalty to the keepers right with his first touch of the game to put the Fleet back in control of the tie.

Harrow came close but for terrific defending from Kenny Clark who somehow got in the way of Ibrahim Meire’s turn and shot after a knockdown from Shaun Preddie. Fleet had switched off with 10 minutes to go and were lucky to escape when Michael Peacock flicked another header just over the bar. Harrow did manage a second from captain Marc  Charles-Smith with 7 minutes to go. Webb’s left wing cross found the forward unmarked 6 yards out to head home beyond Miles in the Fleet goal.

Despite the two goal advantage, Fleet were hanging on a bit as Babalola low cross was just cut out at the near post and Meire snatching at  a shot  from the edge of the area. With Harrow pushing forward, Sheringham went inches away from sealing the game, cutting inside his man and unleashing a powerful left footed drive just wide of the post.

In the end, the Fleet held on to secure their passage through to the next round despite the nervy finish to the game.

Ebbsfleet: Miles, Shields ( Cook 61), Connors, John, McCoy, Clark, Rance ©, Deering, Sheringham, Bubb ( McQueen 60) Powell

Subs not used:  Kedwell, Ashmore, Boulding,

Yellow cards: Rance 73, Miles 86, Cook 90

 

Harrow Borough: Patel, Webb, Lomas, Peacock, Preddie, Taylor ( Newman 68) Bryan ( Babalola 68), McLeod, Charles-Smith ©, Meire, Webb

Subs not used: , Barima, , Ochoa

Yellow cards: Taylor 64

Referee: Colin Lymer

Attendance: 613