Ebbsfleet United comfortably won on Tuesday night but it took a long time to get going as the first half seemed to be a pre season friendly apart from the weather.

Maidenhead had come to Stonebridge Road In a little bit of form but did not show that tonight.

The first half was very low key as either side managed to make any clear cut chances, in the 7th minute Myles Weston running forward from halfway decided to have a go from 20 yards but it was deflected for a corner.

Ten minutes later Adrian Clifton received the ball on the right & then went across the field before shooting but it went over the bar.

In the 20th minute Jack Payne saw his 30 yard free kick saved at the second attempt by Carl Pentney. In the 27th minute Harold Odemetey on the right went direct into the area & his shot from an acute angle was saved by Nathan Ashmore’s legs for a corner.

Ebbsfleet could have scored in the 33rd minute when Pane’s chip to the back post found Michael Cheek on his own but from 12 yards his header was easily saved.

The second half started with Maidenhead starting the quicker without causing any problems & then in the 52nd minute a ball across the penalty area for Seth Nana Twumasi which he lost possession to Corey Whitely who then slammed it home from 5 yards.

Seven minutes later it was two when a ball threaded through the middle saw Whitely race onto it & he went into area & from 15 yards his shot was saved by Pentney but came out sideways for Cheek who slammed home from 5 yards. Maidenhead were shocked by this & it didn’t get any better for them as in the 67th minute Josh Kelly was put through & he went round the advancing Ashmore & but from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy he shot into the sidenetting.

Another chance came their way in the 76th minute when Kelly on the right saw his low cross to the back post just evade the sliding Ryan Upward, this summed their evening up & then in the 80th minute confusion reigned in the area as Cheek & Gozie Ugwu combined & the ball bounced conveniently leaving Cheek on his own to fire past Pentney.

The final whistle went & overall Ebbsfleet probably deserved to win but the scoreline did flatter them.

EBBSFLEET UNITED:

N.ASHMORE 2. J.KING 3. S.MAGRI 8. E.ADAMS (89) 11. M.WESTON 12. M.CHEEK 15. G.UGWU

16. J.PAYNE (76) 18. C.WHITELY 22. B.GRAHAM (81)

SUBS USED: 14. F.MONCUR (76) 9. D.KEDWELL (81) 21. A.OMAR (89)

SUBS NOT USED: 13. J.MILES

BOOKINGS: NONE

MAIDENHEAD UNITED:

C.PENTNEY 2. R.CLERIMA 4. H.ODAMETEY 5. A.OBILEYE (70) 8. J.COMLEY (78) 15. S.NANA TWUAMASI

16. R.SHICKLEFORD 17. A.CLIFTON 19. R.UPWARD 20. N.OWUSA (64) 24. A.MASSEY

SUBS USED: 10. J.KELLY (64) 27. S.NOMBE (70) 11. M.WORDFOLD (78)

SUBS NOT USED: 7. H.ALVES 18. J.AKINTUNDE

BOOKINGS: 19. R.UPWARD (19) 16. R.SHICKLEFORD (26)

REFEREE: Mr S. YIANNI

ASSISTANTS: Mr M.SMITH & Mr D.BANDARA

4th OFFICIAL: Mr R.BATTYE

ATTENDANCE: 811