Ebbsfleet United secured their third play-off final in a row with a hard fought victory over Hampton.
As usual they made sure the supporters chewed their nails as it was only in the last minute that they knew they had won.
The game itself started slowly with both teams easing their way into the game & it was Ebbsfleet who had the first chance when in the 13th minute Jack Powell put Marvin McCoy in on the right wing & his low cross from the by-line found Aaron McLean in the area & his first time shot went just wide.
It seemed the game plan for Hampton was working as they were trying to deny Ebbsfleet any room which did seem a bit negative. In the 29th minute another chance went Ebbsfleet’s way when McCoy on the right got to the by-line & his low cross found McLean again & his shot this time went over the bar.
Hampton had their first half chance in the 32nd minute when Brendon Kiernan’s cross to the back post found Nathan Collier but under pressure he headed wide.
In the 36th minute Ebbsfleet took the lead when a Powell free kick to the back post found McLean on his own & he headed back to the far post where Kenny Clark was & his powerful header hit the back of the net.
Six minutes later & it was nearly two when a throw in on the right was thrown in to the path of Dave Winfield who dummied it leaving it for Sam Deering who from 25 yards saw his shot go just over the bar.
The last chance of the half came right on half time when Hampton nearly equalised, a Kiernan free kick from 25 yards was pushed over the bar by Ashmore.
The half time whistle went & the Ebbsfleet supporters were happy but not over confident as they had seen their team lose from this position before but the positives were that Hampton would have to be more positive which would leave gaps for Ebbsfleet to score.
The second half started with Fleet dominating possession & in the 47th minute a Powell free kick to the back post found Winfield & his header from 10 yards was saved by Sam Howes, then in the 56th minute Powell 25 yards out tried his luck but it went wide of the post, two minutes later Deering was put through on the right & he went into the area & his shot saw saved by Howes.
In the 61st minute Hampton out of nothing equalised when substitute Jerome Federico ran onto a long ball beating McCoy & running into the area & his low shot beat Ashmore on the near post suddenly there was silence from the crowd.
Hampton suddenly had belief they could get back into this game & in the 73rd minute Josh Casey’s cross from the left was half cleared to Christian Jolley & from 20 yards his shot went wide.
In the 86th minute Duncan Culley received the ball & from 20 yards his shot went wide. In the 87th minute Anthony Cook on a breakaway passed forward for Daren McQueen who passed out wide to Danny Kedwell on the right & his shot was saved by Howes legs, then in the 89th minute the Stadium went wild as Ebbsfleet got the winner & the game when a Ashmore free kick was flicked backwards by Kieran Murphy & McQueen latched on to it & flicked it over Howes to set off wild celebrations.
In 3rd minute of added on time Deering passed out wide to Danny Kedwell who passed inside to McQueen in the area & he twisted & turned before shooting just past the post.
The final whistle went & now they can concentrate on a final against Chelmsford who had beaten Dartford.
EBBSFLEET UNITED:
- ASHMORE 2. A.COOK (90) 3. J.CONNORS 4. M.McCOY 5. D.WINFIELD 6. K.CLARK 7. J.POWELL (77) 8. A.DRURY 9. A.McLEAN (69) 10. D.RANCE 11. S.DEERING
SUBS USED: 16. D.McQUEEN (69) 14. D.KEDWELL (77) 15. S.SHIELDS (90)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. Y.MAMBO 13. J.MILES
BOOKINGS: 10. D.RANCE (63) 8. A.DRURY (66)
HAMPTON & RICHMOND
- HOWES 2. M.KAMARA 3. J.CASEY 4. N.COLLIER 5. K.MURPHY 6. J.HICKS 7. B.KIERNAN .8. L.SOLOMAN (83) 9. S.RIVIC (45) 10. C.JOLLEY 11. T.JELLY (45)
SUBS USED: 14. S.HIPPOLYTE-PATRICK (45) 16. J.FREDERICO (45) 15. D.CULLEY (83)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. S.GALLAGHER 13. B.BISHOP
BOOKINGS: 10. C.JOLLEY (36) 5. K.MURPHY (45) 6. J.HICKS (50)
REFEREE: Mr. A.DALE
ASSISTANTS: Mr J.ROBERTSON & Mr O.MORRIS-SANDERS
4th OFFICIAL: Mr P.HOWARD
ATTENDANCE: 2,102