Ebbsfleet ran out comfortable winners in their first ever competitive match against Concord Rangers in blustery conditions at Stonebridge road on Saturday afternoon.

First half goals from Ben May and Michael Thalassitis and two more in the second half from Andy Pugh and a delightful free kick from the sponser’s man of the match Aiden Palmer sealed victory for the Fleet.

Ebbsfleet took the lead in the 11^th minute when Anthony Cook’s corner from the left was headed back across goal by Paul Lorraine into the path of Ben May who turned and drilled the ball under the goalkeeper through a sea of legs in the penalty area.

With the wind causing problems with the ball swirling in the air, play of real quality was lacking although Anthony cook forced a good save from a free kick after being upended  by the Concord right back, Bradley Hamilton.

Fleet’s 2^nd goal arrived in the 37^th minute when good work by cook down the left found the left back Aiden Palmer whose first time cross found the unmarked Thalassitis who headed down into the left hand corner of the net.

Chances were at a premium for Concord with a few dangerous crosses not finding their man and their good play being thwarted by some rather odd decisions by the referee, much to Concord manager Danny Cowley disgust who shouted at the press box that ‘we may as well go home, as he is ruining the game.’

One more chance fell to Ebbsfleet in the first half with once again good work on the left by Cook who after numerous stepovers, dipped  onto his right foot to shoot, forcing a good parry from Jamie Butler in the Concord goal. The rebound fell to Rance who laid off to Pugh who shot over at the angle of post and bar.

At half time, Preston Edwards was replaced in the Ebbsfleet goal by Brandon Hall and Hall was lucky to shovel a speculative shot from Sam Higgins around the post.

Ebbsfleet made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half. Dean Rance crossed from the right to find Thalassitis who held the ball up before laying the ball off to Andy Pugh who placed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net with his left foot.

Ebbsfleet appeared to take their foot off the pedal and Concord grew into the game with first substitute Reece Harris causing Hall to save well high to his right and then fellow sub, Steve Cawley breaking into the area from the right and shooting over when he should have done better.

Goalscorer Thalassitis was replaced by Billy Bricknell with just over twenty minutes remaining and he reacted first to Ben May’s flick on and his shot was defelected over for a corner.

As the game began to peter out, Ebbsfleet scored their fourth,  with a delightful left footed free kick over the top of the wall from 20 yards out by Aiden Palmer.

Soon after, Palmer was announced as the man of the match to the cheers of the happy home crowd.

 

Teams:

Ebbsfleet: Edwards( Hall 45), Sessegnon, Palmer, Mcmahon (Corcoran 65), Lorraine © ,Sankofa, Thalassitis (Bricknell 68), Rance, May, Pugh, Cook.

Subs not used: Osborn, Long.

Concord Rangers: Butler, Hamilton (Cawley 57), Glozier, Collins, King, Easterford (Lampe 45), Gordon, White, Higgins, Ogilve (Harris 45), Stokes ©.

Subs not used: Vanderhyde, Livings.

Attendance 682