Ebbsfleet ran out comfortable 4-0 victory at home to Concord Rangers to pile the pressure on league leaders Maidenhead.
First half goals from Kenny Clark and Bradley Bubb, followed by second half strikes from Sean Shields and Bubb again gave the Fleet a comfortable home victory.
Ebbsfleet welcomed Essex visitors to Stonebridge Road in the shape of Concord Rangers as The Fleet looked to keep up the pressure on Vanarama South leaders Maidenhead. Ebbsfleet were looking to continue their winning start to 2017 whilst the visitors were looking for precious points in their quest to stay in the division.
Ebbsfleet started brightly and scored with 6 minutes on the clock. Andy Drury’s corner towered in at the far post by centre back Kenny Clark. The early goal bred confidence throughtout the side as Drury forced Concord keeper Bailey Vose into a terrific diving save from a free kick before Winfield almost copied centre back partner Clark from the resulting corner in a terrific opening 10 minutes for the home side.
The game quietened down as both sides cancelled each other, with both sides struggling to keep possession of the ball for long periods of time.
It was Ebbsfleet that had the next big chance in the 34th minute and it was Dave Winfield again, heading Sean Shields cross inches wide of the far post from 8 yards out after the big defender had found himself still up field from a Fleet free kick moments before. Concord had their first real shot at goal with 38 minutes gone. Dione Sembie- Ferris drove from the edge of his own area before feeding Tony stokes who broke into the fleet area and shot just wide of Nathan Ashmore left hand post.
Controversy rose a minute later as Sam Deering was put through down the right and raced into the area before seemingly being bought down by the onrushing keeper, but instead the referee booked Deering for simulation. Ebbsfleet did make it 2 before the break as good work between Marvin Mccoy and Deering down the right fed Kedwell to cross low for Bubb to fire home right footed into the bottom left corner.
It took 10 minutes for either side to make a clear opening in the second half and it was the hosts that were to go close. Deering pulling the ball back to Kedwell, whose shot from the angle was rifling towards the top corner before it was deflected over for a corner. Concord were next to have an effort with a speculative effort from Amos Nasha from 35 yards just going over the crossbar.
Ebbsfleet made the game safe in the 63rd minute with a third. Deering was the orchestrator, shooting from 25 yards, before following up the rebound himself. Deering was bought down by the keeper but the referee played a great advantage for Sean Shields to fire home into the top corner.
Tempers flared in the 71st minute after a late challenge on Kenny Clark by Concord captain James White made both players angrily push and shove each other with the referee doing the sensible thing of booking both players. Despite the scoreline, Concord continued to try and fight their back into the game with Tony Stokes forcing Ashmore into his first save with 15 minutes to go, saving comfortably at his near post.
With news filtering around the ground that Maidenhead were losing, the fans behind the goal upped the volume and substitute Anthony Cook almost added a sumptuous fourth for the home side. Drury fed McQueen down the left for the forward to cross low, Cook turned his defender by flicking it over his head and the keeper smothered his low shot out for a corner.
Ebbsfleet made it 4-0 with 5 minutes to go with a fantastic team goal. 20 passes around the team before rance found cook with a cross field ball. Cook stood up his full back before feeding in Drury in the inside right position, who crossed for Bubb to head home unmarked 6 yards out for his second of the game.
Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Shields ( Cook 72), Connors, McCoy, Winfield, Clark, Rance, Drury, Kedwell ©(McQueen 72), Bubb, Deering (Powell 64)
Subs not used: Mambo, Miles,
Yellow Cards: Connors 23, Deering 39, Clark 71
Concord: Vose, Girdlestone, Wyatt, Norman (Stokes 17), King, McKenzie, Sembie-Ferris, White©, Nasha (Collins 69), Cawley, Della-Verde ( Laucys 82)
Subs not used: Topley, Chiedozie
Yellow cars: White 71
Referee: Mr Lloyd Wood
Attendance: 1028