Fitting for Halloween weekend, some scary defending from Ebbsfleet United resulted in a frustrating 3-2 defeat at Stonebridge Road against Wealdstone despite remaining at the top of the National League South table.
Daryl McMahon’s side came into the game with a nine point lead over second placed Oxford City in the National League South, having scored an impressive 24 goals in their opening 14 games, conceding just 8 in the process.
Their task would not be easy however, Wealdstone came into the game experiencing their best form for a long time, unbeaten in all competitions since the 29th of September and preparing for an FA Cup first round tie next week, they only found themselves 17th in the table due to a disappointing start.
There was only one change for the fleet from their frustrating 0-0 draw at Chelmsford the previous week, this came in midfield with Dean Rance returning in the place of Jordan Parkes whilst Charlie Sheringham returned on the bench after a year- long absence due to injury. They faced a Wealdstone side which included ex- fleet midfielder Michael Corcoran and Matthew Harriott, who only signed on Friday, made his first start for his new side.
It only took two minutes for the visitors to score the opening goal. From the kick off they put pressure on Ebbsfleet, forcing an early corner. The hosts were only able to clear as far as the edge of the area where Harriott hit a spectacular volley which clipped the underside of the crossbar as it flew into the top corner of Brandon Hall’s net.
Moments after Wealdstone nearly scored a second after Hall was unsuccessful in taking control of a cross, dropping the ball to the feet of Jefferson Louis, who played the ball left to the feet of Bradley Hudson- Odoi whose effort was well stopped by Hall.
Controversy struck moments later when the hosts surged forward before Wealdstone hurried a clearance away, only for the ball to hit Dale Binns’ arm before Danny Kedwell took the ball from a defender and sliding a shot past the goalkeeper, only for the referee to bring play back for the way Kedwell seemed to take both players to the ground.
The host’s pressure was rewarded soon after when Joe Howe’s cross from the left was met by the head of Danny Hayes to give Ebbsfleet an equaliser.
Ebbsfleet’s pressure went on and with just under half an hour gone a cross fell to Danny Kedwell at the far post. The experienced striker played the ball back to Stuart Lewis who could only watch as his low effort was deflected wide. From the resulting corner Kedwell’s effort at a cross from the right was acrobatically tipped over by Johnathan North.
With ten minutes of the first half remaining, Ebbsfleet’s search for a second continued. After Lewis’ Half volley looped inches wide it was John- Paul Kissock who hit a long range effort just wide of the near post.
Despite Ebbsfleet’s heavy pressure, it was Wealdstone who took the lead just before half time, again the Fleet were unable to clear a cross from the left. With Brandon Hall off his line after trying to clear the cross, Harriott took his opportunity to score his sides second with half time edging closer.
With Ebbsfleet pushing forward, the second half began as the first had gone on. From the first corner of the half Matt Godden flicked the cross past Johnathan North to give Ebbsfleet their second equalising goal of the afternoon.
Spurred on by their early second half goal, the hosts went on. Moments after the goal Danny Haynes had a shot saved at the near post before Joe Howe’s long range effort was punched clear.
John- Paul Kissock soon had a chance to himself after Danny Kedwell’s powerful run down the left wing. The attacker found Kissock whose low, deflected shot hit the inside of the post before rolling out of play.
Despite their dominance, it only took one attack for Wealdstone to regain the lead. After Sean Lucin skipped past Matt Fish, the winger’s low cross evaded Brandon Hall, allowing Jefferson Louis to convert from within the six yard box.
That third goal flattened Ebbsfleet. For a lot of the second half they offered nothing going forward and began to lose possession in midfield. It was only a Kedwell free kick with just over ten minutes remaining which woke them up. Jordan Parkes, who came on as a substitute, shot wide from distance but that was all they had to offer.
A lack of creativity in midfield resulted in no opportunities for the host’s attacking players resulted in their second defeat of the season in a frustrating loss.
After the game Daryl McMahon talked about his displeasure in his side’s defending:
“You can’t concede three goals at home and expect to win”.
“We lost the game today because we didn’t defend well. Our defending was very poor today and it’s something we’ll need to look at ahead of next week”.
McMahon’s side will now look forward to the visit of second placed Oxford City as they look to regain their nine point lead after it was reduced to six this weekend.
Ebbsfleet United: Hall, Fish, Howe, Lewis (Parkes), Clark, Bonner, Kissock, Rance, Kedwell, Godden, Haynes (Sheringham).
Subs not used: Acheampong, Miles, West
Wealdstone: North, McLeod- Urquhart, Binns (Duffy), Parker, Hamlin, Corcoran, Lucien (Hutchinson), Harriott (Ball), Louis, Davies, Hudson- Odoi
Subs not used: Christian- Law, McLeish
Referee: Mr R Cooper
Assistants: Mr D Hanna, Mr R Hart