Ebbsfleet United made it to successive Kent Senior Cup Finals as a last-minute Elijah Anthony strike lit up a semi-final that looked like it was headed for penalties.

The development player’s excellent long-range effort left his boot and soared over goalkeeper Matt Rowley and into the top corner.

The Fleet brought Dominic Poleon back into the starting lineup and there were also starts for Kymani Thomas, Ryan Carr, Tyler Cordner and Felix Goddard. Tonbridge were without former Fleet winger Sean Shields but otherwise named a strong eleven.

The Fleet had the first chance of the match as Kymani Thomas ran into space down the left and laid a pass towards Poleon but his effort from just inside the box was off target. Mo Dabre had the first chance for the visitors just past the 10 minute mark but his effort too headed wide as the Angels began the game well.

A promising link-up as the Fleet began to assert more control between Kwame Thomas and Alex Aoraha allowed the midfielder to free up room for skipper Rakish Bingham but the Fleet’s number nine was caught offside as he looked to take advantage.

The first big chance of the game fell to the Fleet just before the half-hour mark as a neat ball from Maxx Manktelow met Poleon’s run. He opted to slot the ball across to Kwame Thomas but the effort was blocked and as Poleon arrived for the rebound, Rowley was called into action to keep it out. 

The visitors responded when Luca Botti’s head at the far post met a set-piece delivery and wasn’t far off but it was a first 45 that lacked solid action in either box.

A slow start to the second half meant it was 10 minutes in before the 500 spectators had another chance to watch. Good build-up from the Fleet across midfield allowed Aoraha to find Bingham from the left but the shot rose over the bar.

Brody Peart fired high over the bar for Tonbridge and Ethan Sutcliffe was just wide with another effort.

Carr tried to get the front men running with a flurry of passes through the middle but they weren’t sticking while out wide, Anthony chased and slung in several crosses that Tonbridge defended.

It was a very slow-paced second-half with minimal action at either end but both sides livened up as the minutes ticked down in an attempt to snatch a late winner.

Fleet dominated the latter stages but didn’t really threaten Rowley’s goal until Anthony picked the ball up 30 yards out. Responding to shouts from the fans to shoot, he pulled the trigger to send a looping shot over the head of Rowley into the top corner, producing a goal worthy of winning any match.

That the Fleet won this one means Josh Wright’s side head to Priestfield Stadium on April 2nd to take on Welling United in the Kent Senior Cup Final.

EUFC: Goddard, Manktelow, Olagunju, Cordner, Anthony, Ky.Thomas (Chapman 63), Aoraha (Edser 59), Carr (Domi 78), Bingham, Thomas (Cosgrave 71), Poleon.

Subs: O’Neill

TAFC: Rowley, Fielding, Nelson, Sutcliffe, Vincent, Dabre (Bakrin 46), Maloney, Ward, Wood, Peart, Botti (Galaky 76).

Subs: Parkinson, Richardson, Dubov

Attendance: 501 (154 away)

Photos: © EUFC / Ed Miller