As results elsewhere went their way, Ebbsfleet United have moved to within 2 places and 7 points of the playoff places, with a game in hand, courtesy of a 1-nil win over a stubborn Maidenhead United. 
To add to their consecutive wins, the Fleet’s forwards seem to be finding the net more regularly; competing in their own version of ‘Goal of the Season’.
After Matt Godden’s wonder strike at Hayes Lane seven days ago, it was Adam Cunnington’s turn to score with a spectacular volley. Cunnnington took only 90 seconds of this game to lift an inch perfect effort over the retreating Ashley Timms, into the corner of the net, for his eighth goal in eleven games since joining in January.
But, if the Stonebridge Road faithful thought that the floodgates would open after this start, they were to be disappointed. Although both sides got into good positions during the match, neither goalkeeper was called upon to make anything other than routine saves thanks to some determined defending.
Jamie Day, Ebbsfleet’s manager, admitted afterwards that the three points, and the momentum they provide, were more important than the performance. But he added “I was disappointed with some of our decision making during the game and the performance, but we’ve won one-nil, got back-to-back wins, got three points, got a clean sheet, and that’s important at the business end of the season. I think I worked them too hard in training this week, and that’s my fault, as one or two looked a little tired out there.”
“You thought the early goal would settle everyone down, but it didn’t happen. Even though the performance wasn’t there, we’ve still got the three points, but we know when we play well, we’ve got the quality to beat the top teams.”
“We made the changes as it was a bit flat out there and you could see that Maidenhead might just nick one. The changes probably didn’t have a bit effect on the game, but when they have two lads sent off, you’d hope we would pass it better and see the game out.”
Looking to build on their impressive win last week against Bromley, Ebbsfleet were on the front foot from the kick-off. Maidenhead conceded an unnecessary throw deep in their own half, from which Adam Cunnington flicked a ball down to Stuart Lewis. The Fleet captain couldn’t make a clean connection with his volley and could only watch as the ball bobbled through to Ashley Timms in the Maidenhead goal.
From Timms’ clearance, Kelvin Langmead returned a header with interest, with the Maidenhead bench protesting for a foul. Cunnington turned Simon Downer and even though the defender was putting him under pressure, he was able to lift a shot from 25 yards over Timms to put Ebbsfleet ahead.
Langmead was almost caught out in Maidenhead’s first real attack on 6, as Harry Pritchard’s low cross was heading into the 6-yard area. Adrian Clifton, who had seemed intent on a running battle with all of the Ebbsfleet defenders, nipped in ahead of Langmead, but the defender was quick to recover and block the eventual shot.
On 16, Magpies’ midfielder Tyrell Miller-Rodney weaved past two soft challenges and into the Ebbsfleet area. Miller-Rodney forced Brandon Hall to beat a curling shot away, and as the visitors’ started to force the play higher up the field, Langmead had to be alert to block from Clifton once more.
It took until the 31st minute for Ebbsfleet to get another clear sight of the Maidenhead goal, as the opening was worked well down the right wing. Cunnington held the ball up, allowing Matt Fish to overlap, and the full-back’s cross found the head of Sean Shields arriving off the left wing. Shields though couldn’t direct his header on target to trouble Timms.
On 41, Maidenhead moved the ball through the left midfield channel through a series of short passes, allowing Clifton the chance to cut inside Fish, but the Magpies’ forward dragged his shot wide left.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, Ebbsfleet created two good chances to extend their lead. First, Shields clipped a ball over the Maidenhead defence, where Matt Godden connected with a left foot volley that was deflected wide. Then Cunnington broke down the right and Matt Johnson retrieved his deep cross. Godden met Johnson’s ball back into the area, but his header lacked the power to stretch the keeper.
The home side created the first chance of the second period, as Maidenhead struggled to clear a Fish cross. De Reece Vanderhyde eventually sliced out to Stuart Lewis, whose shot was well held by Timms.
Three changes in 11 minutes seemed to disrupt Ebbsfleet as Maidenhead’s leading scorer, Dave Tarpey, had a shot blocked by Langmead, and then floated a freekick over from 22 yards.
This saw Jamie Day and Barry Ashby urging their players to push up, and Fleet responded with Cunnington’s shot being blocked out to Stuart Lewis, who could only fire an effort at Timms. Cunnington was then released into the area, but Timms was off his line to dive at the forward’s feet to push the ball away. Stuart Lewis’ attempted side-foot follow up was screwed past the right post.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men on 70, as skipper Mark Nisbet’s scything challenge on Tyrone Marsh, when in full flight, was deemed worthy of a red card, even though the challenge took place over 30 yards from goal with covering defenders. Even Day thought “It looked like a needless tackle, but I’m not sure if it was a red. Tyrone (Marsh) certainly felt it, but I think from Maidenhead’s point of view, he didn’t need to commit the foul.”
With the Magpies defence trying to reorganise, Alex Osborn and Theo Lewis exchanged passes to cut through, allowing Tyrone Marsh a sight of goal, but he scuffed his effort into the ground.
Maidenhead’s task got even harder, being reduced to nine men on 82, as full-back De Reece Vanderhyde received a second yellow for a foul on Stuart Lewis. But against the reduced numbers, Ebbsfleet seemed satisfied to sit on their lead and the game drifted to its conclusion.
Day explained “We had an advantage, but we didn’t keep the ball well enough with that advantage. Maidenhead had nothing to loose and could throw bodies forward and I think a few of the boys got a little edgy. The passing wasn’t great at times, but we’ve dug in and earned the result.”
“It takes time, and is harder when you’re expected to win every week. You can’t put a group of players together and win four- or five-nil every week. We just want to win games, but we know we can improve on areas. The back four is looking solid, and we’re starting to deliver more going the other way. Adam and Keds have come in and hit the ground running, and I’m pleased with that. The boys are taking on board what we are saying, there is work to do, and we could be more clinical in the final third.”
“If you weren’t here and saw the result, you’d say we’ve done what we had to do. We’ve got to put pressure on the teams above, and we’ve still got three of those teams to play. If we win the next eight games one-nil, it doesn’t matter too much about the performances; it just matters about the wins. We know the performance wasn’t good today, but it’s three points to take into the Havant game. When I’ve won this league before, you need the one-nil’s when the game is a bit scruffy. But we can look forward to next week now.”
EBBSFLEET UNITED: Brandon Hall, Matt Fish, Ben Jefford, Dean Rance, Kelvin Langmead, Tom Bonner, Matt Godden (Tyrone Marsh 66), Matt Johnson (Theo Lewis 55), Stuart Lewis, Adam Cunnington, Sean Shields (Alex Osborn 59).
Subs not used: Anthony Acheampong, Preston Edwards.
Goal: Adam Cunnington 2
Bookings: Matt Fish 17, Ben Jefford 41, Tyrone Marsh 83
MAIDENHEAD UNITED: Ashley Timms, De Reece Vanderhyde, Harry Pritchard, David Hunt, Mark Nisbet, Simon Downer, Danny Green (Kieran Morris 71), Adrian Clifton (Leon Solomon 83), Charlie Strutton (Eddie Hutchinson 78), Tyrell Miller-Rodney, David Tarpey.
Subs not used: Ashley Nicholls, Elvijs Putnins.
Booking: De Reece Vanderhyde 52
Dismissed: Mark Nisbet 70, De Reece Vanderhyde 82
Attendance: 819
Referee: Mr Andy Laver
Assistants: Mr Mike Desborough and Mr Alex Blake