A much changed Ebbsfleet United side were given a good test against a Sheppey United who have made good strides in recent season, in the Kent Senior Cup this evening.

However, with ten academy players in the 15 for the fleet and the fact that Stacey Long and Darryl McMahon played for the first time in a long while, showed that the club were looking to the future by giving some of their young stars some valuable first team experience.

The game started with Sheppey having the first chance of the game when a cross to the far post found Rob Saunders but he ended up kneeing it over the bar. Five minutes later Enoch Adjei ran from halfway and from 20 yards saw his shot parried away by Jonathan Miles.

In the 22^nd minute Ebbsfleet took the lead when Daryl McMahon 25 yards out flicked the ball forward for John Paul Kissock who flicked it forward for Charlie Sheringham who shot home from 6 yards.

Sheppey reacted well to this disappointment and in the 25^th minute David Abe running from halfway on the right cut inside and passed to George Batten whose 20 yards shot was pushed over the bar by Miles, from the resulting corner they nearly equalised when a shot from nowhere came back of the crossbar.

Ebbsfleet should have increased their lead in the 34^th minute when McMahon’s corner to the back post found Sheringham 8 yards out on his own but he headed over the bar.

In the next minute McMahon showing his class chipped the ball forward for Sheringham who in the area saw his shot parried away by Dean Warford, in the very next minute Ebbsfleet did increase their lead when another McMahon corner in the back post found Reiss Greenidge who from 5 yards kneed the ball into the net.

Half time arrived and it looked like Ebbsfleet would win this cup tie easily.

The second half started with Sheppey on the attack and in the 53^rd minute they got a goal back when a long ball forward caught the Ebbsfleet centre backs out and the ball bounced into the area and Abe nipped in between the pair and poked it past the advancing Miles. This gave Sheppey confidence and every time they broke you thought something might happen & in the 64^th minute Adjei running towards the Ebbsfleet goal let fly from 25 yards & saw it go just wide.

Three minutes later and they could have equalised when a cross to the back post found Dan Bradshaw but from 8 yards on his own headed wide.  Ebbsfleet should have wrapped the game up in the 80^th minute when Sheringham’s cross to the back post found Karn Miller-Neave but from 8 yards his volley hit the ground and went over the bar. Sheppey had one more chance when Timmy Babington cross found Abe & his scissor kick went just wide.

The final whistle went and the Ebbsfleet players, management and supporters were through to the next round whilst Sheppey can hold their heads up as they played well but can now go back to the League which is their bread and butter.

Ebbsfleet United:

1. Miles 2. O.Boulding  3. K.Miller-Neave  4. M.Chapman  5. R.Greenidge  6. H.Odogwu-Atkinson
2. S.Long 8. D.Mcmahon (80)  9. C.Sheringham  10. B.Bubb  11. Jp Kissock (32)

Subs Used:  14. J.Miles (32) 12. G.Forrest (80)

Subs Not Used:  13. B.Nourse  15. L.Wood  16. E.Eboda

Bookings :  None

Sheppey United:

1. Warford 2. J.Huggins  3. J.Fornah  4. C.Harrold  5. R.Saunders  6. G.Batten  7. E.Adjei
2. D.Bradshaw 9. D.Abe  10. I.Batten  11. J.Simmons (2)

Subs Used:  14. T.Babington (2)

Subs Not Used:  12. K.Olawasere  15. M.Okubote  16. M.Okundailaya    17. L.Gransden

Bookings :  None

Referee: Mr J.Packman

Assistants:  Mr O.Butcher  & Mr D.Friar