A spot in the Kent Senior Cup semi-final was confirmed for Ebbsfleet United as a first-half Dom Samuel hat-trick and an Omari Sterling-James strike straight after the break sent the hosts through to meet Chatham Town.
An early attack from the visitors allowed Eri Akintimehin passage towards goal but a quick recovery from Greg Cundle broke that play up and the returning No.15 would carve out a chance of his own when he struck an effort narrowly over the crossbar.
Beckenham stuck it out in the early stages and showed glimpses of hope when they moved towards Chris Haigh’s goal but the Fleet were a threat every time they got forwards, with Jordon Ibe and Darren McQueen adding to Cundle’s running. A cross into the area picked out Samuel but his shot was just wide while Tommy Fogarty came close to his first Fleet goal with a headed effort from a corner that was blocked.
A succession of headers from the hosts proved comfortable enough for Beckenham keeper Tom Crump and the young goalkeeper tipped Hayden White’s close-range effort over the crossbar as Fleet inched closer to the opening goal.
That goal did come just before the half-hour mark. Ibe laid a beautiful ball into the path of Samuel and he despatched a shot from distance that blazed into the top corner.
The score stayed at 1-0 despite a couple of strong chances when McQueen played a ball to Matty Fanimo who drilled a shot at goal but Crump made another strong save for the visitors.
A second goal for the Fleet and for Samuel arrived on 37 minutes when a rebound off Crump’s save from Sterling-James was tucked away by Samuel.
Two soon became three and it was a first hat-trick in Fleet colours for Samuel three minutes before half-time when Sterling-James’ ambitious cross from the right picked out the forward who chested the ball home to put the hosts out of sight before the break.
And that gap was widened within moments of the restart. Clinical play from solo work down the right saw Sterling-James find the opposite corner of the net with an accurate shot after McQueen laid the ball into his path.
Substitute David Amoo, who replaced Samuel at the start of the second-half, slid towards goal as the ball landed at the far post but it was just out of his reach.
Beckenham had a free-kick on the edge of the area cleared before Jeremiah Frimpong’s sprint down the wing teed up Steve Townsend but Haigh got down low to stop that. At the other end, Crump once again had to block Amoo’s path to goal before he then denied the Fleet their fifth.
A penalty decision went the Fleet’s way on 81 minutes when the ball struck the hand of a Beckenham player and substitute Nathan Odokonyero stepped up but Crump guessed the right way and made the save. From a possible 5-0, it became 4-1 almost immediately as Beckenham switched play to the far end when Freddie Nyhus slotted home a consolation goal from close range for the visitors.
Haigh pushed away another shot with an acrobatic dive to stop another consolation and there was little doubt about a routine win for a strong Fleet side who were able to give Academy defender Maxx Manktelow 20 minutes experience and he got plenty involved in his time on the pitch.
EUFC: Haigh, White, Fogarty, Domi (Odokonyero 50), Cissé, Cundle (Manktelow 72), Sterling-James, Ibe, Fanimo, McQueen, Samuel (Amoo 46).
Subs: Shoolbred, Firth
BTFC: Crump, Awoleke, Wyburn, Ikudghinbn, Wawogho, Bower, Griffin, Nyhus, Frimpong (Kevser 80), Akintimehin, Townsend (Bah 86).
Subs: Falade, Carter, Blue
Attendance: 362