A commanding performance from Ebbsfleet United meant they opened their National League South campaign in impressive fashion, beating newly promoted Poole Town 4-0.

Following from the heartbreak of last season’s playoff final, Daryl McMahon’s side started their fourth consecutive season in the second tier of non-league football as favourites for promotion. A plethora of summer moves meant a new look Ebbsfleet eleven started the game.

McMahon started with a three man defence with Jack Connors and Sean Shields as full backs whilst Jack Powell and Darren McQueen made their home debuts, the latter partnering new fleet captain Danny Kedwell up front.

Their opponent’s on Saturday afternoon came off the back of an impressive 2015-16 campaign which saw them win the Southern League by nine points. Manager Tom Killick kept the majority of the squad who were a part of the title winning season, and looked to continue their form into the new season.

Within two minutes of kicking off, Poole had the opening chance of the game. Sean Shields gave away possession in midfield allowing Luke Roberts to make an advance on goal, only for Nathan Ashmore to deny the striker.

However, Ebbsfleet scored the opening goal of the season from their first shot on target, and what a goal it was. After a shot from Kenny Clark was blocked by a resolute Poole defence, the loose ball fell to Dean Rance on the edge of the area. Without needing to control the ball, the midfielder hit a magnificent strike into the top corner, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead within the opening ten minutes.

The Poole pressure continued after they went behind. Marvin Brooks had a header bounce inches wide before Dave Winfield needed to block a close range effort from the same attacker.

As the game settled down, neither side created an abundance of opportunities. Just before the 30 minute mark Danny Kedwell had a shot blocked, but Ebbsfleet’s wing backs weren’t doing the three centre back any favours. Both Shields and Connors, on the right and left respectively, were pushing forward, meaning they struggled to track back when Poole hit the hosts on the counter attack.

With time running out in the first half, both teams pushed on in search of the second goal of the afternoon, Sean Shields nearly gifted Poole an equaliser when his pass back to Nathan Ashmore was too weak, but he made up for it moments later, his cross finding Dean Rance’s head but the midfielder was unable to send his effort goal- bound.

The half ended with a spell of Poole pressure but Ebbsfleet were equal to it, meaning they went in a half time 1-0 up.

It took only four second half minutes for Ebbsfleet to double their lead. A perfect through ball from Jack Powell was put into the path of Danny Kedwell and the attacker, who began the second half as a lone forward after a tactical change, finished across Nick Hutchings emphatically to give Ebbsfleet a 2-0 lead.

Just three minutes later Kedwell nearly scored again, but he was unable to convert a cross from Shields, instead only being able to hit the post from close range.

Poole soon worked their way back into the game, and after Luke Robert slid an effort wide, and Nathan Ashmore needed to claim a high cross on 64 minutes.

The Stonebridge Road crowd thought their side had scored a third when substitute Anthony Cook placed an effort past Hutchings, only for the winger to be called for offside.

This didn’t deter Cook though, as moments later his cross from the left set up Danny Kedwell for a bullet header, giving Ebbsfleet their third of the afternoon.

Their fourth soon followed; after Anthony Cook was tripped on the corner of the penalty area both Kedwell and Jack Powell stepped up to the ball. The new Ebbsfleet captain allowed the new midfielder to take the set piece and Powell didn’t disappoint, stroking the ball over the wall as it curled away from the goalkeeper and into the top corner on 77 minutes.

The impressive second half went on, Anthony Cook was tripped in the area, only for the referee to deny him the spot kick, and seconds later Danny Kedwell hit a left footed effort just wide of the left post.

With the hosts happy to play out the rest of the game, the four goal lead stood, giving Ebbsfleet a fantastic start to a season in which promotion is expected. They will now prepare for the short midweek trip to Concord rangers before travelling to Hungerford to face another promoted club next weekend.

Fleet manager Daryl McMahon saw the clear differences between the first and second halves, but refused to take the praise for his tactical adjustments.

“Our fitness levels are good, as the game went on we got stronger and stronger and that has an impact on the game as well. There are lots of reasons we did well, maybe it did help a bit but there were plenty of reasons why we did well”

 

Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore, Shields, Connors, Clark, Winfield, Greenidge (Fish), Rance, Parkes (Kissock), Kedwell, McQueen (Cook), Powell

Subs not used: Miles, Deering

Poole Town: Hutchings, Lindsay, Case, Spetch, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbridge, Devlin, Roberts (Zanchetta), Brooks (Wort), Baggie (Gillespie)

Subs not used: Rees, Davis

Referee: Mr I Fissenden

Assistants: Mr J Packman, Mr M Marsh

Attendance: 1,031