Ebbsfleet United are through to the First Round of the FA Cup with victory over East Thurrock and now can look forward to Doncaster Rovers.

Saturday’s draw was described as dull and boring and the first half was exactly like that, although there were a few half chances.

Thurrock nearly took the lead within twenty seconds when Harry Honesty on the left saw his cross just evade Montel Agyemang flying wide.

Ebbsfleet had their first chance in the 8^th minute when Andy Drury & Danny Kedwell combined leaving Kedwell to try his luck from 18 yards but it went wide.

Five minutes later Sean Shields on the right crossed into the area for Kedwell but his header went over the bar.

In the 16^th minute a Jack Powell corner to the back post found Sam Magri and his header was tipped over the bar by Lukas Lidakvicius.

Ebbsfleet were now enjoying a lot of possession but yet to force Lidakevius into a save. In the 26^th minute a quick free kick put Shields in on goal but from 10 yards he shot across the goal.

In the 31^st minute they got closer to opening the score when Powell’s low driven corner to the near post saw Kedwell’s flicked shot cleared of the line.

East Thurrock were defending resolutely and in the 38^th minute in a rare attack Lewis Smith in the area went down under pressure which could have been a penalty but not this time, two minutes later Agyemang running from halfway saw his shot from 15 yards deflect into the hands of Nathan Ashmore.

The half time whistle went and both teams had a lot to ponder.

The second half was completely different to the first as Ebbsfleet came out with a lot more purpose, in the 50^th minute Powell’s free kick from 19 yards curled round the wall and the post, four minutes later Kedwell on the edge of the area went down the wing nd his cross to the back post found Danny Mills but he couldn’t direct his header goalwards as it went past the post.

Eats Thurrock, against the run of play, nearly went in front as Reece Harris’s dinked free kick into the area was headed goalwards and came back of the post and in the next minute Ebbsfleet scored, when Powell’s low driven corner to the near post was steered in by Drury.

Three minutes later it was game over when Shields on the right crossed into the area and substitute Aaron McLean with his first touch of the game headed in.

Ebbsfleet were now in total control and apart from a couple of chances Thurrock ran out of steam.

In the 78^th minute Smith let fly from 20 yards forcing Ashmore to palm it away and then in the 89^th minute a cross into the area saw Max Cornhill fling himself at it but just missed it.

Ebbsfleet showed their class as in the 4^th minute of added on time they got their third when Luke Coulsen from the edge of the area went on a mazy run beating three defenders and his low cross was stabbed in by Myles Weston. T

he final whistle went as the Ebbsfleet camp could now celebrate and look forward to a League team coming to town in Doncaster Rovers

 

EBBSFLEET UNITED:

1. ASHMORE 3. J.CONNORS  4. D.RANCE  6. K.CLARK  7. J.POWELL (75)  8. A.DRURY  9. D.KEDWELL 17. S.SHIELDS (78) 19. D.MILLS (58)  24. S.MAGRI  26. C.BUSH

SUBS USED:  10. A.McLEAN (58)  25. L.COULSON (75)  11. M.WESTON (78)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. A.COOK  13. J.MILES  15. B.GRAHAM  18. Y.MAMBO

BOOKINGS:  NONE

 

EAST THURROCK UNITED

1. LIDAKEVICIUS 2.  R.SAMMON    3. R.HARRIS (72)    4. G.ALLEN     5. M.EKPITETA    6. J.WHITE    7.  M.AGYEMANG (68) 8. M.CORNHILL  9. S.HIGGINS     10. L.SMITH   11.  H.HONSETY (68)

SUBS USED:  15. L.BURNS (68)  16. R.BOSWELL (68)  12. S.PREDDIE (72)

SUBS NOT USED:  14. V.BELHO  17. B.MARLOW

BOOKINGS:  9. S.HIGGINS (65)

 

REFEREE: Mr. A.QUELCH

ASSISTANTS:  Mr. R.WAINWRIGHT  &  Mr D.BONNEYWELL

4^th OFFICIAL:  Mr. M.MARSH

ATTENDANCE: 866