Both Ebbsfleet and Dagenham played out an entertaining score draw this afternoon. Both sides will be happy with the way they played, but Ebbsfleet will be slightly more annoyed that they couldn’t keep hold of the lead and take all three points.

Those three points would have pushed the Fleet closer to the much coveted play-off places, but credit must be given to the visitors who deserved a point on the balance of play and indeed finished the game the stronger of the two sides.

The game started quickly with Ebbsfleet having the first chance in the 3^rd minute when Luke Coulson saw his shot from 25 yards saved by Mark Cousins. Dagenham started to pass the ball around causing the Ebbsfleet team to defend stoutly, in the 18^th minute Sam Ling on the right wing saw his low cross into the area come to Fejiri Okenabirhie whose cheeky back heel just went past the post.

Three minutes later Okenabirhie 20 yards out controlled the pass and shot just over the bar. In the very next minute Danny Kedwell passed out to Myles Weston on the right wing, his cross saw Coulson acrobatically volley just over the bar from 15 yards.

Dagenham were now enjoying a lot of possession, but for the final ball could have been in front, then in the 34^th minute Ebbsfleet took the lead when Jack Powell on the left crossed low for Kedwell who with three defenders around him managed to turn and shoot hitting the post by Powell reacted the quickest, stabbing home his 7^th of the season.

This stunned Dagenham and right on half time Ebbsfleet nearly increased their lead when Coulson on the left passed inside for Powell in the area but his shot from 15 yards was easily saved by Cousins.

The second half saw Dagenham come out quicker, in the first 15 minutes enjoyed the majority of possession and had a couple of half chances, firstly in the 50^th minute Andre Boucard latched onto a clearance, saw his first time shot from 25 yards go over the bar. Then in the 58^th minute Okenabirhie running across the penalty area saw his shot saved by Nathan Ashmore.

Six minutes later in a counter attack Andy Drury running at the defenders slipped the ball through for Weston on the left his shot was tipped around the post by Cousins. After this scare Dagenham flexed their muscles, bought on their three forwards from the bench, then pushed Ebbsfleet back.

In the 75^th minute Jake Howells on the left crossed into the area where Okenabirhie saw his header go past the post, then three minutes later a ball into the area fell at Corey Whitely’s feet, his shot from 15 yards went over the bar, the danger signs were there.

Ebbsfleet up to now had defended resolutely, it looked like they could pick up all three points, they also relied on breakaways but Kedwell was the only one forward so the ball kept coming back.

In the 87^th minute Dagenham finally got the goal their possession deserved when Matt Robinson on the edge of the area saw his shot deflect of Mason Bloomfield flat footing Ashmore, hitting the back of the net, what a way to concede. The final whistle went after a frantic five additional minutes with both teams trying to get a winner.

 

 

Ebbsfleet United:

1. Ashmore 2. M.Mccoy  4. D.Rance  5. D.Winfield   6. K.Clark  7. J.Powell (82)  8. A.Drury
2. D.Kedwell 11. M.Weston  24. S.Magri  25. L.Coulson (65)

Subs Used: 17. S.Shields (65)  23. B.Bubb (82)

Subs Not Used:  10. A.Mcclean  13. J.Miles  26. C.Bush

Bookings:  None

Dagenham & Redbridge:

30. Cousins  5. C.Robson  6. M.Robinson  7. L.Howell (67)  11. F.Okenabirhie  14. D.Sparkes (75)
31. A.Boucard 18. K.Lokko  19. S.Ling  23. M.Cheek 29. J.Howells

Subs Used:  25. C.Whitely (67)  10. M.Ferrier (70)  24. M.Bloomfield (75)

Subs Not Used:  13. L.Moore  2. B.Nunn

Bookings:  6. M.Robinson (57)  29. J.Howells (90+4)

Referee: Mr. C.Brook

Assistants:  Mr. D.Knox     &   Mr. D.Bandara

4^th Official: Mr. S.Rudd

Att 1684