Ebbsfleet United’s fine run in pre-season continued with a hard fought victory against local rivals Gillingham.

They have won all six games scoring 11 goals & conceding only one.

The first half was a rather stale affair as only Preston Edwards of the keepers had to make a save.

In the 5th minute Man of the match Tommy Fraser 40 yards out saw his snap shot go past the post.

Gillingham had a shot in the 9th minute when Jermaine McGlashan 25 yards out saw his shot deflected past the post by fellow team mate Luke Norris.

Edwards’ save came in the 31st minute when Brennan Dickenson combined with Norris & went into the area & his shot was saved by Edwards at the near post.

In the 39th minute the last half chance of the half came from a Gillingham corner but John Egan headed over the bar.

The half time whistle went & both Managers had to earn their corn as both sides seem to cancel each other out.

Peter Taylor was to make wholesale changes as he put out eleven new players.

The second half was only a minute old when Ebbsfleet had a glorious chance to take the lead when the ball was crossed into the area & was only half cleared to Alex Osborn who controlled it & shot but Kortney Hause was able to clear off the line, two minutes later Anthony Cook on the left saw his low cross deflected away for a corner.

In the 52nd minute a long ball towards Danny Kedwell who controlled it & then put Bradley Dack in the area & his shot was saved by Edwards.

This period of play albeit 7 minutes was better than the first 45. The game then went slow for the next 20 minutes, then in the 73rd minute Cook receiving the clearance 25 yards dummied his way forward & then his curling shot went past the post.

Gillingham had the next chance in the 76th minute when a Jake Hessenthaler corner to the back post found Kedwell but his header went high & wide.

In the 79th minute a Jordan Sanderson free kick 20 yards out on the left saw Glenn Morris palm it away for a corner & from the resulting corner Anthony Acheampong headed over the bar.

As the game was drifting to a nil nil draw, disaster struck for Gillingham as in the 84th minute Ebbsfleet broke the deadlock when Dack lost the ball in his own area as Matt Johnson challenged him & he passed to Charlie Sherringham who from 6 yards shot past Morris.

The final whistle went & you could see the differing emotions on both managers as Steve Brown was delighted & can’t wait for the season proper to start where as Peter Taylor said there were more negatives than positives from today’s performance.

 

FULL TIME: EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-0 GILLINGHAM

Ebbsfleet United line up: Edwards, Howe (Sessegnon 37), Palmer, McMahon (Sanderson 69), Acheampong, Huke (Harrington 72), Osborn, Corcoran, Godden (Sheringham 63), Fraser (M Johnson 79), Cook.

Subs not used: Hall, Clark, C Johnson, Nguede, Mazzone.

Gillingham 1st half: Nelson, Egan, Davies, Hare, McKain, Barrett, Borrowdale, Dickenson, McDonald, McGlashen, Norris,

Gillingham 2nd half: Morris, Brister, Martin, Hause, Legge, Loft, Hessenthaler, Kedwell, German, Morris, Dack.

Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden.

Assts: Mr Rob Baker & Mr Ricky Adams

4th Official: Mr Ollie Fyfe.

Attendance: 1,007