THE National League South never disappoints and this was to be for the fans at York Road as Ebbsfleet United edged out Maidenhead United in a five-goal thriller.
The visitors went into what appeared to be an unassailable three-nil lead as the game entered the final 15 minutes thanks to goals from Josh Coley, Toby Edser and a penalty from Kwesi Appiah. Moments after the fourth official raised the board for five minutes additional time, the Magpies had a lifeline thanks to a powerful strike from Liam Dulson. Minutes later, the unthinkable looked on as Matt Robinson found himself in the right place at the right time to smash home a second for the Magpies, however, it was too little to late for the homeside. The visitors held on and claimed all three points which sees them move up to fourth in the National League South standings.
The visitors started the opening exchanges on the front foot with captain Jake Hessenthaler taking the first shot at goal following a corner which the Magpies defence failed to clear. The strike failed to trouble Jordi van Stappershoef in the Maidenhead goal.
The Fleet started to impose themselves on proceedings as the game commenced, however, despite all of their possession the visitors couldn’t find that elusive opening goal.
Following the visitors dominance in the opening exchanges, the Magpies started to grow into the game but couldn’t quite force any clear cut chances as the game calmed down a little.
The closest effort of the game so far came through Magpies skipper Matt Robinson who saw his central free-kick fly narrowly over the crossbar as the Fleet goalkeeper Matt Hall was rooted to the spot.
The Kent side responded well to this thanks to the driving run from forward Josh Coley who’s sharp footwork saw him beat two players before his low effort took a deflection wide of the goal.
After a period of both sides struggling to find clear cut chances, the Magpies were millimeteres away from taking the lead as Manny Onariase couldn’t quite divert his header into the top corner of the goal following an inviting ball in from Josh Popoola’s free-kick.
Ebbsfleet responded well and took the lead through forward Josh Coley after an inviting ball into the box from the left hand side as he nodded home from the middle of the area. Following the opening goal, a couple of half chances fell to either side, however, none of them could be taken as the game headed towards the halfway mark.
Straight from the second-half outset, the Magpies were looking dangerous forcing a diving double save from visiting goalkeeper Matt Hall before the ball was cleared downfield.
The early second-half pressure nearly paid off as substitute Owen Cochrane was played through down the left before cutting inside and delivering an inviting ball in towards the far post. Following a skewed effort off the head of the Magpies attacker, the visitors scrambled the ball clear.
The home side were becoming relentless in their search for an equaliser and were certainly the side in the ascendancy, however, the Fleet did pose a threat on the counter. The danger on the counter almost prevailed as forward Josh Coley found space on the edge of the area before unleashing an effort on goal. Unfortunately for the visitors, his effort flew high and wide of van Stappershoef’s goal.
The home side failed to make their second-half pressure count as the visitors went up the other end and doubled their advantage. Once again the catalyst was Josh Coley who’s neat footwork allowed him to find Toby Edser who curled his effort from the edge of the area past the full stretched van Stappershoef and into the net.
The Magpies responded well to the delight of the home crowd at York Road but despite some half chances, couldn’t find that elusive goal to get them back into the game as the clash headed into the final 15 minutes. However, it was the visitors who would score the next goal.
The Fleet were awarded a penalty following a trip in the box. Kwesi Appiah stepped up to take the penalty and smashed the ball into the roof of the net to put the Kent side three to the good as the game headed towards its conclusion.
The home fans finally had something to cheer about in the added time as Liam Dulson found space on the edge of the area before driving towards the right corner flag. The forward them unleashed a low powerful effort into the bottom left hand corner to give the Magpies a lifeline.
The home side had their tails up now as they pushed to grab an unlikely result. As they attacked down the right a delightful ball was put into the area and as the ball dropped Matt Robinson was on hand to smash the ball into the goal to half the deficit.
Unfortunately for the home side, that elusive equaliser didn’t come as the referee blew for full-time two minutes later to bring and end to an ethralling game of football.
Maidenhead United: Van Stappershoef (GK), Bartley, Ragguette (Cochrane 46′), Welch-Hayes (De Silva 69′), Yearwood (Odelusi 73′), Mitchell-Lawson, Robinson (C), Umerah, Dulson, Popoola (Pendlebury 75′), Onariase
Goals: Dulson 90+1′, Robinson 90+3′
Yellow Cards: Onariase 63′
Unused Substitutes: Collins, Pritchard, Clerima,
Ebbsfleet United: Hall, Seaman, Hessenthaler, Dallison, Passley, Edser (Wyllie 78′), Samuel (Appiah 73′), Kennedy, Coley (Barnes 83′), Chapman, Olagunju
Goals: Coley 33′, Edser 62′, Appiah 77′
Yellow Cards: Kennedy 40′, Coley 57′, Edser 65′, Dallison 85′
Unused Substitutes: Sandford, Cosgrave, Nelson, Peake, Wyllie
