Darren McQueen and Anthony Cook had their own goalscoring competition as Ebbsfleet United hammered Bishop’s Stortford at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday evening.

Hat tricks from both men and goals from substitute Bradley Bubb and captain Danny Kedwell as Ebbsfleet maintained their unbeaten run of league games in 2017 to keep the pressure on league leaders Maidenhead.

Ebbsfleet welcomed lowly Bishop’s Stortford to Stonebridge Road looking to maintain momentum on their quest for promotion from Vanarama South.

In an error strewn opening 5 minutes, it was Fleet who threatened first from a corner on 3 minutes, Phillips having a hooked shot cleared close to the line.

It wouldn’t take much longer for the Fleet to take the lead. McQueen run at centre back Darren Purse, was stopped but Anthony Cook continued on from the loose ball to fire inches wide with the aid of a deflection.

From the resulting corner, Cook fired in from the edge of the area after the ball fell to him nicely.

Ebbsfleet were looking confident stroking the ball around nicely and fashioned another opportunity a minute later.

Cook and McQueen combined to put McQueen through to shoot left footed beyond the keeper but not escaping the retreating defender on the line.

Chances were flowing for both sides and the visitors were denied a 10th minute equaliser by a fantastic save from Ashmore after Greene fired a hooked volley towards goal from 15 yards, forcing the keeper into a flying stop to tip over the bar.

Ebbsfleet made it 2-0 on 22 minutes in fortuitous circumstances. Kedwell flicked on a long punt up field for the onrushing McQueen down the right hand side. McQueen cut in and put off a speculative effort that slipped through keeper Walton’s hands and nestled in the far right corner, when it would have been easier to save the shot.

Ebbsfleet continued attacking at real pace and the lightning McQueen almost doubled his own tally on 29 minutes. Deering laid the ball into McQueen with his back to goal, one step to the left and McQueen had rifled the post with a rasping low drive, which rebounded off the keeper’s despairing dive and out for a corner.

Ebbsfleet added a third before half time and an amazing 3rd it was. McQueen played the ball out left to Cook, who stood up his man and curled an effort into the top corner from 25 yards to truly reflect the home side’s superiority on all fronts.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first half with incessant pressure from the hosts and Ebbsfleet made it 4-0 on 51 minutes. McCoy and Deering combined down the right for Deering to pull back for McQueen to fire in at the near post past Walton for his second of the game.

It was a matter of how many for the Fleet as the visitors heads visibly dropped with McQueen messing up a 3 on 1 opportunity after Taiwo slipped when in possession just outside his box.

Ebbsfleet did make it 5 on 62 minutes and McQueen completed his hat trick. New signing Jake Howells found McQueen in the area and the forward snuck a low shot in off the far post to give the keeper no chance.

McQueen was substitiuted to a standing ovation from the home faithful moments later to be replaced by Bradley Bubb. Within seconds, Bubb should have been put through by Jack Powell but the midfielder tamely shot at goal instead.

Ebbsfleet added further to the scoreline with Cook completing his hat trick. Cook bought down a high ball and turned his man in one touch before rushing at the centre of the defence. He shot an effort flying past Walton from 25 yards.

Moments later, Cook was substituted to another standing ovation to start the argument for the match ball on the bench with McQueen.

Ebbsfleet weren’t done with 6 and added a 7th with 6 minutes left. Kedwell stole the ball from Taiwo in midfield before slotting in Bubb who took one touch and slotted home down to the keepers left.

Deering fired inches wide a minute later as Ebbsfleet looked for an eighth to boost the goal difference.

Ebbsfleet did make it 8 with a minute remaining as Kedwell finally got himself on the scoresheet, heading home Powell’s left wing corner.

 

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Cook (Shields 71), Howells, McCoy, Phillips, Clark, Powell, Drury (Rance 69), Kedwell, McQueen (Bubb 64), Deering.

Subs not used: Mambo, Jordan.

Bishop’s Stortford: Walton, Rodgers, Williams, Hickford, Bray, Purse, Ford, Taiwo, Callender (Kabeyu 59), Greene (Kouyassi 61), Davidson.

Subs not used: Harris, Lazzari, Ronto.

Attendance: 1229