Darren McQueen was the two goal hero as Ebbsfleet ran out comfortable winners in the second qualifying round of the FA cup at Stonebridge road. 

Five second half goals from the hosts were  reward for their attacking verve as they dominated their lower league opponents. Two goals from Darren McQueen and further goals from Jack Powell and two more from Stuart Lewis  in the last 5 minutes gave the host a deserved passage into the third qualifying round.

FA cup football returned to Stonebridge road for this 2^nd qualifying round match between Ebbsfleet and AFC Sudbury. Both sides have started their respective league campaigns positively with Fleet placed 5^th in Vanarama South whilst their visitors are placed 4^th in the Ryman Premier league, 20 places below the hosts in the pyramid system, having lost just once all season and recording a 6-0 win in the 1^st qualifying round against Halstead Town. That said, Ebbsfleet started the game as huge favourites for this game, having hit 4 goals in their two previous home games.

Ebbsfleet started brightly and went close after a minute of the game. Jack Powell’s quick free kick out wide to wing back Anthony Cook found him in acres of space, his centre into the box was headed up into the air and Dean Rance headed an inch over the bar from 6 yards. Spaces down the right hand side were opening up at will for the Fleet as Kedwell was next to find himself in spaces. His low cross was just inches away from connecting with Darren McQueen at the back post.

The home side were all over their lower league visitors in the opening 15 minutes and almost took the lead when Deering set mcQueen through. The striker raced through before cutting inside the defender and shooting straight at the goalkeeper. Seconds later, Dean Rance went close again, arriving late to head Kedwell right wing cross over the bar.

Despite being outplayed for the opening 20 minutes, Sudbury weren’t overawed by the occasion and were playing some free flowing football when in possession. This possession led to Robert Eagle firing a speculative shot just wide of Jonathan Miles left hand post from 25 yards.

After a lull in the tempo, Ebbsfleet were close to taking the lead at the half hour mark, Sean Shields cross from the left eventually richochet into the path of Danny Kedwell, whose turn and shot was deflected just wide for a corner. From the resulting short corner, Jack Powell found himself on the edge of the box, his shot blocked by the hand of the defender but penalty claims were waved away by the referee. Sudbury were still an attacking threat and when cook gave a way a free kick after 34 minutes, Ryan Auger forced Miles into a smart save down low to his right.

Ebbsfleet were kept out again in the 39^th minute, Sam Deering being found  in the area from Kedwell’s pass, his low shot was excellently tipped around the right post by Marcus Garnham in the visitors goal. The keeper kept out Shields two minutes later as the home side kept peppering the visitors goal. Deering was kept out again before half time with a piledriver from 30 yards being pushed out by Garnham, who was quickly becoming AFC Sudbury’s FA cup hero.

Despite their dominance, Fleet were lucky to go in at half time 0-0 when Adam Tann had a header cleared off the line from Sean Shield’s in first half stoppage time as the visitors dogged determination nearly paid off.

The confidence from keeping Fleet out for the first half instilled more attacking belief from Sudbury and they were inches from taking the lead when Kenny Clark sliced a clearance inches wide of his post. From the resulting corner, Fleet counter attacked and McQueen found himself one on one, instead of shooting however, he overran the ball into the keepers arms. The miss wasn’t to be rued however as seconds later McQueen gave Fleet the lead. Shields left wing cross was misjudged by Garnham in the Sudbury goal, allowing Kedwell to get on the end of it and cross for McQueen to tap into the empty net to give the hosts a deserved lead after 54 minutes. 

McQueen made it 2-0 on 65 minutes. Sam Deering floated ball held in the wind, allowing Mcqueen to get in between keeper and defender and deftly lift the ball into the empty net to allow the home side breathing space. Fleet were looking for a 3^rd and Cook and Sub Stuart Lewis combined for Lewis to fire straight at the keeper.

Sudbury were still trying to get back in the game and Miles saved well in the Fleet goal from Liam Wales before delightful play from Shields down the left forced another save from the Sudbury goalkeeper with 15 minutes remaining.

Fleet got their 3^rd with 10 minutes remaining. Danny Kedwell crossing sublimely through a crowded box for Jack Powell to tap home from 5 yards.  It was goals galore as Stuart Lewis added two more goals in the final 5 minutes, first bundling through the centre of the defence and slotting home for Fleet’s 4^th and firing home a 5^th two minutes from time, stealing the ball from Shields as he danced through the penalty area to give the fleet a convincing victory.

The victory could have been even greater as Kedwell missed a great chance with the final kick of the game, stretching as he connected with Bubb’s cross and somehow clearing the crossbar.

Ebbsfleet: Miles, Cook, Shields, Greenidge, McCoy, Clark, Rance ( Lewis 45), Deering ( Kissock65), Kedwell ©, McQueen ( Bubb 78), Powell

Subs not used:   Ashmore, Sheringham, Connors, Boulding

yellow cards: Cook 34

Afc Sudbury: Garnham, Furlonge( Newman 65), Wilkinson, Tann, Henshaw, Baker, Auger ( Callender 69), Clarke ©, Wales, Eagle, Greene

Subs not used: French, Mallardo, Robinson, Reynolds

Yellow cards:  Clarke 12, Wales 83, Henshaw 87

Referee: Gary Parsons

Attendance: 855