An impressive second half goal from Danny Kedwell steered Ebbsfleet United to their first win of the season as they beat Basingstoke Town 1-0 at Stonebridge Road.

There was a sense of optimism around Stonebridge Road in the build- up to the game, Fleet manager Daryl McMahon had made the most of the funds available to him to create a side to challenge for the renamed National League South title, this included bringing in the league’s player of the season from the previous year, Jordan Parkes in from Hemel Hempstead.

The midfielder started in McMahon’s first team of the new season, along with new signings John-Paul Kissock and Robbie Willmott.

Despite this, it wouldn’t be an easy start as they came up against Basingstoke who came off a successful season which saw them finish in third before being unsuccessful in the play-off semi-finals.

The Dragons’ side contained a number of ex-Ebbsfleet players including Louie Soares, Liam Ever-Marum and Will Salmon, who started the game within the substitutes.

As expected, Ebbsfleet began to control the game from the kick off, and after Parkes made the most of a bad pass from Tom Bird, the playmaker found Robbie Willmott who watched his low shot clawed away by Aaron Howe in the Basingstoke goal.

The visitors were able to work their way into the game soon after however, a series of corners began a spell of pressure with their quick attacking movement troubling Fleet keeper Brandon Hall.

Attempts including a Liam Enver-Marum header and a long range effort from Jamie Brown kept Hall awake, but the goalkeeper was able to watch both efforts go wide of his goal.

The hosts steadily began to retain possession and they nearly found the opening goal with 30 minutes gone when Robbie Willmott’s cross was nearly steered in by Jordan Parkes, but the midfielder was unable to convert under pressure from two defenders.

With time running out in the first half, Ebbsfleet pushed on to look for their first goal of the season, but with four minutes remaining Parkes’ corner from the left was volleyed goal bound by Tom Bonner but his first time effort was strongly tipped wide by Aaron Howe.

The goalkeeper was nearly forced into another save minutes after when a free kick from Parkes evaded his onrushing team mates, before curling inches wide of the far post, meaning the sides went in at half time level.

Parkes was instrumental in Ebbsfleet’s first chance of the second half when, after receiving the ball from just inside Basingstoke’s half, he took the ball about 15 yards before hitting a long range shot which Aaron Howe was forced to tip over before the resulting corner was hurried away.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 50^th minute with Robbie Wilmott involved, this time after a swift counter attack from Ebbsfleet the new signing skipped past a man before setting up Danny Kedwell on his left foot who hit a powerful, curling shot into the top corner, despite Aaron Howe’s acrobatic dive to his left the ball flew into the upper left of the goal, giving Ebbsfleet their first goal of the season.

Willmott had a chance of his own just under twenty minutes later when Parkes was able to win possession in midfield, but the attacker’s effort from 25 yards was put wide.

Attention shifted to Liam Enver-Marum, making his return to Stonebridge Road the attacking player was able to put in two dangerous crosses from the right wing, the first just evaded Chris Flood and minutes later Matt Fish was on hand to clear the danger off the line.

Wide play seemed to be the only way Basingstoke could break down a stubborn Fleet defence, and with ten minutes remaining a cross from the left wing was deflected inches wide of Brandon Hall’s goal.

Their pressure continued when good passing from the left forced Kenny Clark to bravely block Chris Flood’s effort before Liam Enver-Marum placed his shot over with an open goal in front of him.

The hosts soon had another opportunity to double their lead, but after Joe Howe was able to find Johnny Hayes under pressure, the substitute’s powerful shot flew wide.

The long range efforts continued late into the game when Jordan Parkes let rip from 25 yards, forcing a full length save from Aaron Howe meaning Ebbsfleet opened the season with a win as their promotion challenge begins.

After his side’s victory, Ebbsfleet manager Daryl McMahon was quick to praise his new signings, especially John-Paul Kissock, who plays in a similar way to McMahon during his playing days.

“JP is an exciting player, as the game developed he got himself into more space and did really well.” said McMahon.

“He can play anywhere in midfield, out wide, in the hole or further forward”.

The Fleet will now prepare for their short away trip to Maidstone and McMahon is excited at the chance to play a part in the sold out game:

“We’ll approach it in a positive manner and we can’t wait to get playing”

“It’s not just any game, it’s a derby. I used to enjoy playing in derby matches and every one of our boys is ready for what they need to do”

 

Ebbsfleet united: Hall, Fish, Howe, Rance, Clark, Bonner, Godden (Haynes), Parkes, Kedwell (Cunnington), Kissock, Wilmott.

Subs not used: Acheampong, Miles, Johnson.

Basingstoke Town: Howe, Smart, Bird, Harper, Gasson, Ray, Soares (Dunn), Brown, Enver-Marum, Flood, Williams (Macklin).

Subs not used: Gilkes, Salmon, McAuley.