If any game ever went the way of the form book, the game between Ebbsfleet United and Welling United certainly did.

Hosts Ebbsfleet haven’t lost a league game since Boxing Day which happened to be the last time Welling won away.

However, a surprise results looked on the cards in the opening minutes.

Dan Walker put the Wings ahead with a stooping header from Rhys Murrell-Williamson’s cross in the seventh minute and might, maybe should have scored again three minutes later only to see his shot hacked off the line by Jack Connors.

That seemed to wake the Fleet up and the rapid Darren McQueen caused havoc for the Welling defence. His pace got him clear of the back four but goalkeeper Chris Lewington made himself big and stopped McQueen’s shot with his foot.

Walker tried a cheeky free kick from 45 yards but it floated wide before McQueen brought another save out of Lewington.

Just before the half hour mark, the Fleet calmed the nerves of their supporters with the equaliser.

Danny Kedwell controlled a long cross field pass and pulled back for Jack Powell who gave Lewington no chance with a crisp finish.

Pierre Joseph-Dubois had a shot saved by Nathan Ashmore before Lewington made another save, albeit at the second attempt, from McQueen.

Kedwell then had a good shout for a penalty when Murrell-Williamson appeared to block his cross with an arm.

However, the let off for Welling was short lived as some horrendous marking from a corner allowed Kenny Clark to volley home with ease.

Three minutes later, Ebbsfleet were awarded a penalty for a handball against Rickie Hayles that was less obvious than the one that was turned down.

Although Lewington went the right way, the sheer power of Kedwell’s spot kick meant that there was no chance of it being saved.

McQueen and Powell had chances after the break before Welling had a spell of their own.

Substitute Tom Richards hit a shot across the face of goal that went just the wrong side of the far post.

Then Murrell-Williamson’s shot came back off the post to Walker but his first time effort flew well over.

Ali Fuseini spun and shot just wide but that was as good as it was going to get for Welling.

McQueen used his pace again only to be tugged back by Danny Waldren. The referee wasted no time in brandishing a red card to the Wings’ captain.

Mark Phillips missed a good chance with a header from a corner before Ebbsfleet added a fourth.

It was no more than McQueen deserved when he finished from Powell’s cross. McQueen’s work was done and he was replaced by Bradley Bubb for the final twenty minutes.

Tyrone Marsh, a one time Ebbsfleet player, came on for the first time at the start of his second spell for Welling but did not get the service to make an impression.

Sixteen minutes remained when Danny Kedwell made it five. Andy Drury made a nuisance of himself forcing Lewington to make a rare mistake which allowed the Fleet captain to stab home.

Maidenhead United won by exactly the same score at Bath City so there was no change at the top whilst Gosport Borough’s draw with Weston-super-Mare reduced Welling’s buffer between them and the relegation zone to just five points.

 

Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore, Cook (Shields 55), Connors, McCoy, Phillips, Clark, Powell, Drury (Rance 75), Kedwell, McQueen (Bubb 70), Deering.

Subs not used: Winfield, Jordan.

 

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Brown, Fuseini, Hayles (Richards 46), Walsh, Walker, Waldren, Cathline (Hatton 46), Joseph-Dubois (Marsh 71), Murrell-Williamson.

Subs not used: Amu, Johnson.

 

Ebbsfleet United

Goalscorers: Powell (29), Clark (40), Kedwell (43 pen, 74), McQueen (69).

Yellow cards:

Red cards: None

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Walker 7

Yellow cards: Cathline, Hayles

Red cards: Waldren

 

Referee: Robert Massey

Assistants: Scott Postin and Tom Reeves

 

Attendance: 1,767

 

Man of the match: Darren McQueen

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.