The afternoon started with a minute’s applause for Paul McCarthy and ended with a thumping victory over East Thurrock to move Ebbsfleet United back to the top of the table which was a fitting performance to remember the former skipper.

The game started in a bad way for Ebbsfleet as in the 10^th minute they conceded a goal when Femi Akinwande went into the area & was fouled by Jack Connors & a penalty was given, up stepped Reece Harris who smashed it into the bottom left hand corner.

This seemed to launch Ebbsfleet into action as in the 15^th minute Danny Kedwell received the ball on the edge of the area turned quickly & shot but Lukas Lidakevicius saved it, a minute later Sam Deering tackled Kye Ruel advanced into the area & from an acute angle saw his shot go wide of the far post.

In the 19^th minute in a rare attack Akinwande latched onto a long ball went into the area before shooting but hit the side netting.

Three minutes later Kedwell & Bradley Bubb combined in the area leaving Bubb to shoot from 8 yards but it was saved by Lidakevicius.

In the 27^th minute Ebbsfleet finally scored when Bubb on half way bundled his way through a couple of tackles went into the area & squared the ball for Anthony Cook three yards out to side foot in.

In the 29^th minute it could have been two when Jack Powell’s corner into the 6 yard box saw Andy Drury side foot his shot wide.

In another rare attack East Thurrock’s Harris on the right crossed to the back post where Tom Wraight was but he stretched for the ball & could only shoot into the side netting.

Two minutes later another glorious chance fell Ebbsfleet’s way when a Deering cross into the area found Kenny Clark but his header went straight at Lidakevicius. In the very next minute they did score & go in front when a Powell corner to the back post found Drury 5 yards out on his own & his powerful header hit the back of the net.

Three minutes later Bubb & Deering combined leaving Bubb free in the area & his shot from an acute angle went just past the post.

In the 42^nd minute Marvin McCoy & Kedwell combined leaving McCoy free in the area but his shot went over the bar, then came a tremendous goal for Ebbsfleet a minute later to increase their lead when out of nothing Cook scored, the ball came to him & he looked up saw the keeper off his line & his shot from 35 yards flew over Lidakevicius into the net.

The second half saw Ebbsfleet carry on as they left off the first half as in the 49^th minute Cook ran from just inside his half & then fed Kedwell on the right & his low cross to the back post found Bubb but he could not control it & it ended up in the keeper’s hand.

In the 53^rd minute they could have scored their fourth when Drury’s quick free released Bubb on the left who got to the by-line & his low cross found Deering whose stabbed shot was superbly pushed away by Lidakevicius.

Two minutes later Drury 20 yards smashed his volley goal wards only for Lidakevicius to push it away & Cook reacted the quickest but could not get his shot on target hitting the side netting.

Two more minutes later Cook on the right flicked the ball over the defender ran into the area & saw his crops shot go past the far post.

In the 65^th minute they got their fourth when a ball into the area found Drury who controlled it & shot home from 6 yards.

Four minutes later a corner to the back post found Kedwell & his shot from 6 yards was saved.

The fifth goal came in the 81^st minute when Kedwell 40 yards out flicked the ball on for Powell who ran on into the area & shot past Lidakevicius & the rout was finished in the first minute off added on time when Darren McQueen latched onto a loose ball & from 15 yards he shot home.

The final whistle went & Maidenhead only drawing saw Ebbsfleet go top of the table. What a way to finish the day in memory of Paul McCarthy.

 

EBBSFLEET UNITED:

1. ASHMORE 2. A.COOK  3. J.CONNORS  4. M.McCOY 5. D.WINFIELD (7) 6. K.CLARK  7. J.POWELL  8. A.DRURY 9. D.KEDWELL 10. B.BUBB (70)  11. S.DEERING (81)

SUBS USED: 12. M.PHILLIPS (7)  16. D.McQUEEN (70)  15, S.SHIELDS (81)

SUBS NOT USED: 13. M.JORDAN  14. Y.MAMBO

BOOKINGS: NONE

 

EAST THURROCK UNITED:

1. LIDAKEVICIUS 2. A.OSIFUNA  3. K.RUEL (45)  4. S.PEDDIE  5. MARVIN EKPITETA  6. L.BURNS  7. S.HEARD (81) 8. B.WOOD 9. F.AKINWANDE  10. R.HARRIS  11. T.WRAIGHT

SUBS USED: 15. G.CRADDOCK (45)  14. G.HONESTY (81)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. M.FREITER  16. MARVEL EXPITETA

BOOKINGS: 7. S.HEARD (34)

 

REFEREE:  Mr P. HOWARD

ASSISTANTS: Mr M.MARSH & Mr I.SEARLE

ATTENDANCE: 1267