It was a true Good Friday for Ebbsfleet this afternoon as they beat Whitehawk 3-0, but remain outsiders in the playoff race.
Ebbsfleet’s inconsistent form has mean that they have fallen away from their playoff push, forcing Jamie Day and Peter Varney to accept that the club will be playing Conference South football next season in their programme notes. The fleet came into the game having lost their last two games on their travels and looked to return to winning ways upon their return to Stonebridge Road.
For their opponents however, a playoff place remained a possibility, Whitehawk came to north Kent having won just one of their last six away matches despite only being outside the top five places in the Conference South.
Jamie Day made two changes from the Ebbsfleet team who lost at Concord Rangers the previous week, Aiden Palmer came in at left back after Ben Jefford was recalled from his loan spell by Welling and Danny Kedwell took the place of Sean Shields.
After an even start tot eh game it was Whitehawk who had the first scoring opportunity when a long ball from John- Paul Kissock allowed Jake Robinson to run at Brandan Hall’s goal, but the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper was able to keep out the low shot. Just moments later the visitors had another opportunity but Danny Mills’ shot was again kept out by Hall after another chance from Mills was headed wide.
Soon after calls for two Ebbsfleet penalties were turned down, their first came after the ball seemed to strike Sergio Torres on the arm and the second came from Danny Kedwell falling in the area under pressure from Pa Saikou Jujabi with penalty calls quickly being quietened down by referee Adam Quelch.
The fleet were finally took advantage of their attacking line up after a run from Matt Godden the ball was layed off to Adam Cunnington, his deflected shot fell into the path of Godden who looped his volley past Craig Ross, giving Ebbsfleet the lead.
The hosts had a chance to double their lead when another swift counter attack resulted in a corner, but Kelvin Langmead’s header was well saved from close range by Craig Ross. Their pressure continued and Danny Kedwell’s shot after turning away from Osei Sankofa resulted in another corner which was hurried away.
Late in the first half Whitehawk came close to scoring their first goal of the game when Scott Neilson’s cross was carried by the wind towards the Ebbsfleet goal before clipping the crossbar and going out of play for a goal kick. The hawks hit the woodwork again when Jake Robinson’s curling free kick hit the post before rebounding off Brandon Hall, meaning Ebbsfleet went into half time 1-0 up.
It took just under ten minutes of the second half for Ebbsfleet to double their lead, after Tom Cadmore was unable to clear a cross from the left Matt Godden pounced in the loose ball to score his second goal of the afternoon.
Godden was needed by Ebsfleet again just five minutes later when Danny Mills put a cross back towards the penalty box where the attacker was able to clear the ball away, from which Sam Deering took control of the ball and fired a shot over after a tricky, weaving run.
Whitehawk continued to look for a way back into the game and they nearly brought a goal back if it wasn’t for some great defending from Tom Bonner, Matt Fish’s pass towards Brandon Hall was intercepted by Danny Mills and as the striker pulled his foot back to shoot Bonner did brilliantly to get across and block Mill’s effort.
In injury time Michael West added a third just over ten minutes after coming on, making his first appearance for the club this season after an injury late in the 2013-2014 campaign kept him out for most of the season when he headed in at the near post after a cross from the left, finishing the game off by giving fleet fans a taster of what they can expect from the midfielder as he scored with the final chance of the game.
Despite the win Ebbsfleet manager Jamie Day is staying with his view that the playoffs remain a long way off. “We still need to win five games without slipping up, it’s a massive ask”
“You never know, but we probably haven’t done enough to reach the playoffs this year”.
His Fleet team have made up some ground on other teams fighting for a playoff place, but remain in 9th, seven points outside the top five the club wanted. They will now prepare for the trip to Wealdstone on Monday- a side who are currently 13th with no need to fight for promotion or relegation.
Ebbsfleet United: Hall, Fish, Palmer, T Lewis, Langmead (Acheampong), Bonner, Godden (West), S Lewis, Kedwell, Cunnington (Marsh), Rooney.
Subs not used: Turner, Rance.
Whitehawk: Ross, Arnold, Deering, Saikou Kujabi, Sankofa (Hamilton), Cadmore, Kissock, Torres, Robinson (Gargan), Mills, Neilson (Makofo).
Subs not used: Ijaha, Abdulla.
Referee: Mr A Quelch
Assistants: Mr L Rutter and Mr M Bloor