It was a ‘Magnificent Seven’ for Ebbsfleet as they produced a commanding performance to overcome Ryman South Hythe Town, and progress into the draw for the Third Qualifying Round of this season’s FA Cup. 
Matt Godden celebrated his recall to the starting line-up with a hatrick, added to by a Charlie Sheringham brace and goals from 16-year old debutant Karn Miller-Neave and Aiden Palmer; Sam Conlon found the net for Hythe as a scant consolation.
Ebbsfleet boss, Steve Brown, was a happy man with the professionalism of his side, acknowledging, “in any round there is a potential banana skin, so I asked the players to attack the game. The two early goals were a huge factor in the performance and the outcome, but it was just about getting through.”
“I’d imagine that Hythe were looking to keep things tight for the first 10-20 minutes, but that start seemed to knock the wind out of their sails. The scoreline was good for us, in that the strikers are getting goals, and we are winning games.”
“At half-time we asked them not to slow the tempo, but it’s difficult to get the balance between keeping the ball and showing an attacking intent. For a while the game went into a lull, but I’d always intending changing it early to get the guys on the bench on to inject a bit more tempo. You have to rely on their professionalism when you are 4-0 up to want to go on to 5, 6 or 7. It was harsh on Hythe, but from our perspective it was good for confidence and morale.”
Two goals inside the first seven minutes ended this match as a contest. Matt Godden scored his first since returning to Ebbsfleet in the summer; capitalising on a rebound to tap home, after Charlie Sheringham’s header from a Joe Howe cross had beaten Dan Eason’s despairing dive, but come back off the face of the bar.
Godden, looking lively having been dropped to the bench for recent games, was central to the second, as he nipped in ahead of Lee Pleau to steal the ball on the edge of the Hythe area, then tumbled over Jack Sullivan’s outstretched leg. Sheringham stepped up to fire home his 7th of the season from the penalty spot.
Shaken by the start, Hythe were indebted to their goalkeeper, as Eason pulled out two world-class saves to keep the scoreline respectable. On 15, Eason flew high to his right to finger-tip a Matt Johnson header over the bar, then produced an even better reaction save to deny Sheringham after half an hour. The keeper had to dive smartly back low to his left to turn away Sheringham’s shot after James Morrish had been robbed trying to dribble out of his own box.
Hythe’s first attack came on 35 as Shane Huke’s sliding interception broke up a promising exchange between Jordan Wells and Jack Sullivan, but two further goals within 35 seconds of each other saw the half-time score to 4-0.
The tireless Godden played a 1-2 with Anthony Cook, that saw Cook lift the return ball over Laurence Harvey, for Godden to repeat the trick to beat Eason. From the kick-off, Harvey’s misplaced pass fell perfectly for Godden to drive into the area and pull the ball back for Sheringham to slot past a helpless keeper.
The second half couldn’t live up to the standard of the first, as Ebbsfleet’s tempo understandably dropped and their ball into the final third was poor. Hythe rarely threatened to get into the Fleet’s half. The home side had plenty of half chances, as Huke headed over and Godden fired two tame shots at Eason.
The last 15 minutes of the game burst back into the life; kick-started by Daryl McMahon giving debutant left-back Karn Miller-Neave seniority at a freekick on the right corner of the area. The 16-year old showed no nerves at all, bending a delightful shot round Eason and in off the left hand post.
Brown was especially pleased about his debutant’s performance, saying “I see the youth teams train in the afternoon 3 days a week, and we’ve had a number join us in training; that’s where you really get to see what they are made off. Karn hit a free-kick like that on Thursday (in the FA Youth Cup win), so I asked Daryl to let him have a go. He’s still growing, and little bits of experience, like today, will do him the power of good. Nothing fazed him today.”
Within two minutes, Hythe had their consolation, as Sam Conlon volleyed home a dropping ball, after Kenny Clark had blocked Michael Yianni’s shot, but this was to be Hythe’s only effort on target for the afternoon.
Aiden Palmer made it six on 83; unmarked in the area to meet a cross from the right wing from Anthony Cook. Then Godden popped up in the area in stoppage time to latch onto a Jordan Sanderson through ball, and claim the match ball for himself.
For Hythe manager, Tim Dixon, at the end of a disappointing day, it’s back to League action on Tuesday night, looking to climb away from the Ryman South basement.
He said “the first two goals have summed up Hythe Town this year; sloppy. We were on the back foot and I feared the worst after that. It was a massive learning curve for us today and you could see the difference in the levels of football.”
“We had to be at our very best today, and we were far from it. I’m glad we played them, not about the result, but it’s shown the level we need to be at. We’ve got to take some responsibility. We’ve not done well in the League so far, and there are one or two players who didn’t do themselves any favours today. We’ve had a go for thirty minutes second half, but that’s because we were working harder; but today, we’ve had our backsides spanked!”
EBBSFLEET UNITED: Brandon Hall, Joe Howe, Aiden Palmer, Daryl McMahon ©, Shane Huke, Kenny Clark, Matt Johnson (Karn Miller-Neave 61), Dean Rance (Jordan Sanderson 77), Charlie Sheringham (Billy Bricknell 58), Matt Godden, Anthony Cook.
Subs not used: Anthony Acheampong, Preston Edwards, Chris Sessegnon, Shilow Tracey.
Goals: Matt Godden 2, 39, 90+2, Charlie Sheringham 7(pen) & 40, Karn Miller-Neave 74, Aiden Palmer 83.
HYTHE UNITED: Dan Eason, John Walker, Jack Sullivan, Michael Yianni, Lee Pleau (Phil Stevenson 65), Laurence Harvey, Dave Pilcher, James Morrish ©, Jordan Wells (Craig Thompson 74), Sam Conlon (Ryan Philpott 87), Josh Burchell.
Subs not used: Lewis Mingle, Simba Nyaruwu, Jed Amor.
Goals: Sam Conlon 76.
Bookings: Jordan Wells 3, Sam Conlon 49.
Attendance: 738
Referee: Mr Chris O’Donnell
Assistants: Mr Jon Panconi & Mr Tom Ratheram