Ebbsfleet kept up their pursuit of the title and automatic promotion with an emphatic victory over their Sussex rivals.

With three games to go it’s still possible they can catch and overtake Maidenhead with the big game next weekend against them.

The first half was poor for Ebbsfleet as Eastbourne with nothing to play for closed them down & played with freedom. The first half chance of the game came in the 29^th minute when Ryan Worrall on the left saw his curling shot force Nathan Ashmore to push it around the post.

In the space of 60 seconds the game changed when in the 36^th minute Andy Drury put Bradley Bubb through in the area but Ian Simpemba got back & with a last ditch tackle stopped Bubb from shooting Ebbsfleet in front, then in the next minute Gavin McCallum latched onto a long ball & from 18 yards saw his shot superbly pushed away by Ashmore but unfortunately for him & Ebbsfleet it hit Kenny Clark’s hand & a penalty was awarded, up stepped Worrall who smashed it in centrally to the right hand side.

The big crowd went silent as this could put their team out of the title hunt. Half time arrived & Daryl McMahan would have to get his team going as it was not good enough whilst Hugo Langton would want more of the same.

The second half started slowly for both teams until the 57^th minute when Ebbsfleet equalised, Sam Deering went racing down the right wing got to the by-line & his low cross was fumbled by Jordan Holmes & Bubb knocked in from 4 yards.

Three minutes later McCallum was put through & his first shot from 15 yards was saved by Ashmore but straight back to him & his second shot from 8 yards hit the sidenetting.

In the 67^th minute Ebbsfleet nearly took the lead when Drury on the left hand side of the area was twisting & turning before shooting & his curling effort came back of the post, a minute later the stadium erupted when Drury slid the ball through for Anthony Cook & from 8 yards he shot past Holmes.

In the 70^th minute a quick free kick by Jack Powell to Drury who ran forward & shot from 25 yards forcing Holmes to push it around the corner & from the resulting corner to the far post Dave Winfield headed over.

It was all Ebbsfleet now with Eastbourne stunned & their only half chance came in the 72^nd minute when the ball was bouncing around the Ebbsfleet area before arriving at McCallum’s feet but his shot from 6 yards went wide.

In the 83^rd minute Bubb received the ball & his snapshot from 20 yards forced substitute keeper Lewis Carey to push it around the post. In the 88^th minute Bubb wrapped the points up when he slammed his shot past Carey from 15 yards.

In the 3^rd minute of added on time Deering was put through by Cook’s flicked header & he passed to Aaron McLean whose shot from 15 yards was pushed over the bar then in the next minute Ebbsfleet got their fourth when Deering was put through & Carey came rushing out & fouled him & a penalty was given, up stepped McLean who hit it straight down the middle, which bought many smiles to people’s faces as he had been injured for seven months what a return.

 

EBBSFLEET UNITED:

1. ASHMORE 2. S.SHIELDS  3. J.CONNORS (57)  4. M.McCOY  5. D.WINFIELD  6. K.CLARK  7. J.POWELL (73)  8. A.DRURY 9. D.McQUEEN (78)  10. B.BUBB  11. S.DEERING

SUBS USED: 15. A.COOK (57) 14. D.RANCE (73)  16. A.McLEAN (78)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. M.PHILLIPS  13. M.JORDAN

BOOKINGS: 6. K.CLARK (37)

 

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH:

1. HOLMES (72) 2. J.HARE  3. C.STONE  4. M.HUGHES  5. I.SIMPEMBA  6. S.HOBSON  7. G.McCALLUM 8. R.WORRALL (74) 9. R.CONNOLLY (69) 10. J.TAYLOR  11. K.KHINDA-JOHN

SUBS USED: 17. N.PINNEY (69)  21. L.CAREY (72)  15. C.OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN (74)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. B.BOSMA  14. R.TATE

BOOKINGS: 6. HOBSON (64)

 

REFEREE: Mr E.KAYE

ASSISTANTS: Mr J.SIMPSON & Mr I.SEARLE

ATTENDANCE: 2,477