Ebbsfleet United were grateful to an own goal with four minutes remaining to maintain their presence in this season’s FA Trophy in a match where both sides struggled to create clear chances.
Woking had taken the lead in the 49th minute with their first real shot on target as a poor defensive clearance fell to Luke Kandi, and he curled a delightful shot round Nathan Ashmore. The equaliser, when it eventually arrived, came from a Dave Winfield header that rebounded off the left post, into the face of Joey Jones, and back into the net.
Both goalkeepers had a relatively comfortable opening half hour as each side struggled to find space in behind the respective back three. Former Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Brandon Hall made a smart save inside the first minute to deny Charlie Sheringham, but the offside flag had already been raised, and apart from a Sean Shields shot high over the bar, all Hall had to deal with was the occasional cross.
At the other end, Nathan Ashmore’s only serious moment came from a cross from the right by wingback Jack Caprice, that the keeper had to push away from two closing Woking forwards. The only other sight of the Fleet goal fell to Fabio Saraiva on 27, but the former Maidstone midfielder’s left foot shot from a deflected cross was lashed wildly past the left hand post.
As the half wore on, Ebbsfleet were starting to capitalise on a number of errors by Woking, with players taking too long on the ball or passing poorly in the middle of the field. Dean Rance slid in to win a tackle which allowed Jack Powell to raid forward. Powell swept a pass in to the feet of Bradley Bubb, who squared up his defender and hit a low shot just inside the left post that Hall reacted well to, tipping the ball away for a corner.
Just like the first half, Ebbsfleet had an early sighter of the Woking goal. Bubb’s flick on found the overlapping Anthony Cook, who attempted an audacious overhead kick that almost landed on the roof of the stand at the Northfleet end.
Woking made the breakthrough in the fourth minute of the second half and, in keeping with the first half, the goal came from a defensive mistake. A positive run forward by Caprice saw the wingback attempt a 1-2 with Luke Kandi, but the return ball was misplaced. However, a poor clearance returned the ball back to Kandi outside the ‘D’ and he measured a left foot curling shot around Ashmore’s dive into the left side of the goal.
Sheringham found himself in a similar position inside the Woking area moments later, but his attempt to curl a shot round a defender and Hall saw the shot slide past the right hand post. This was to be Sheringham’s last involvement though as Daryl McMahon made two changes to try to make an impact on the game.
By the 72nd minute, all three changes had been made for the home team and all three replacements made an immediate impact on the game. Stuart Lewis provided an impetus in midfield that had been missing, while Danny Kedwell’s physical presence and Darren McQueen’s pace supplemented that of Bubb. McQueen saw a shot blocked by Ismail Yakubu and Kedwell had a header that went over the bar as the game became more open.
With players pushing forward, Ebbsfleet were vulnerable to the counter attack. Caprice fired a shot over, but the Fleet were cut open moments later when Ugwu robbed Kenny Clark, releasing Dennon Lewis on the right and his low shot angled across Ashmore, forcing the Fleet keeper to parry the shot away.
Ebbsfleet found a way back into game with four minutes of normal time remaining. Andy Drury’s floated freekick to the right side of the box was attacked by Dave Winfield. His header bounced across goal, off the left hand post and into the face of the retreating Joey Jones, rebounding into the net.
Moments later, with momentum in the Fleet’s favour, Sean Shields worked his way into the box and forced Hall into a save with his legs. The rebound was fed back into the path of Kedwell who, from an acute angle, flashed a shot across the face of the empty net.
EBBSFLEET UNITED: 1- Nathan Ashmore; 4- Marvin McCoy, 5- Dave Winfield, 6- Kenny Clark; 2- Anthony Cook, 8- Andy Drury, 7- Dean Rance (16- Darren McQueen 72), 11- Jack Powell (14- Stuart Lewis 56), 3- Sean Shields; 9- Charlie Sheringham (12- Danny Kedwell 56), 10- Bradley Bubb.
Subs not used: 13- Jonathan Miles, 15- Jack Connors.
Goals: Joey Jones 86 (og)
Cautions: Dean Rance 65
WOKING: 18- Brandon Hall; 5- Brian Saah, 3- Terrell Thomas, 6- Ismail Yakubu; 2- Jack Caprice, 14- Fabio Saraiva, 4- Joey Jones, 21- Luke Kandi (23- Frankie Sutherland 75), 24- Frazer Shaw; 9- Chigozie Ugwu (17- Delano Sam-Yorke 83), 16- Dennon Lewis.
Subs not used: 1- Michael Poke, 8- Keiran Murtagh, 19- Anthony Edgar.
Goals: Luke Kandi 49
Cautions: Chigozie Ugwu 63, Jack Caprice 81
Attendance: 825
Referee: Mr David Rock
Assistants: Mr Wayne Cartmel and Mr Sam Lewis
Fourth Official: Mr Daniel Bonneywell