Floodlight failure stopped Ebbsfleet United from going on to beat Weston Super Mare on Tuesday night.

Daryl McMahon’s side were not only winning, but getting their goal difference up as they completely dominated play from the first minute to the last minute of the first half before the lights gave in.

This was like a game in training with attack verses defence as Ebbsfleet showed why they are favourites to go up.

In the 8^th minute Stuart Lewis on the edge of the area dinked the ball forward for Danny Kedwell whose shot from 10 yards was deflected for a corner.

Seven minutes later Matt Godden latched onto a ball 20 yards & saw his shot go wide & in the very next minute Matt Fish crossed into the area from the right which was met by Godden on his own 10 yards out but he headed over the bar, in the next minute Godden had another chance when Joe Howe’s cross fell at his feet but his shot was deflected over the bar.

Another chance went in the 19^th minute when Jordan Parkes saw his free kick 20 yards out on the right curl over the wall & ended up on the top of the net.

Chances were now coming like London buses as a ball into Kedwell who controlled it & laid it back to Parkes whose first time shot went just over the bar.

Ebbsfleet were in total control & they were patient as they knew within themselves that a goal would come & in the 29^th minute Robbie Wilmott passed inside the full back for Matt Fish who got to the by-line & his low cross forced Ollie Barnes to knock it over the bar for a corner.

Two minutes later it was Lewis’s turn as his snapshot from 20 yards went just past the post & in the 33^rd minute Howe’s cross into the area was half cleared by Pat Keary but straight to Godden whose shot was saved by Luke Purnell’s legs.

Chances just kept on coming as Weston did not know what to do to stop this assault & in the 37^th minute a ball forward was dummied by Parkes for Kedwell who turned & shot in the same motion just going wide.

In the 40^th minute Parkes received the ball & from 30 yards out shot just over the bar.

Three minutes later they finally got their reward for the domination of the game when Wilmott got to the by-line looked up & crossed into the 6 yard box where Kedwell was & his bullet header hit the back of the net leaving Purnell no chance & in the minute added on they made it two when Wilmott again to the by-line saw his low cross find Godden who shot home from 8 yards.

The half time whistle went & then the fun started as one by one the floodlights went out.

The referee Mr Josh Smith held on for 30 minutes before he decided to abandon the match.

The Weston Manager Ryan Northmore was the happier of the two managers even though they will have to travel to Kent later on in the season whilst Daryl McMahon will be frustrated as his team probably played the best football that had been seen at Stonebridge Road for a long time & that 3 points had been lost.

 

EBBSFLEET:

1. HALL 2. M.FISH  3. J.HOWE  4. S.LEWIS  5. K.CLARK  6.T.BONNER  7. M.GODDEN  8. J.PARKES 9. D.KEDWELL 10. J P KISSOCK  11. R.WILMOTT

SUBS NOT USED: 12. A.ACHEAMPONG  13. J.MILES  14. A.CUNNINGTON  15. D.RANCE  16. D.HAYNES

 

WESTON-SUPER-MARE:

1. PURNELL 2. B.WITHEY  3. J.LLEWELLYN  4. P.KEARY  5. O.BARNES  6. C.FORTUNE  K.INGRAM 8. J.CANE 9. S.WILSON 10. D.GRUBB  11. J.McCLENNON

SUBS NOT USED: 12. A.BYRNE  14. J.EDGE  15. B.ASH  16. J.MAWFORD  17. T.PLUMMER

 

REFEREE:  Mr J.SMITH

ASSISTANTS:  Mr  A.WILSON & Mr D.HANNA

Picture supplied by Matt Tillman.