Ebbsfleet United 0-1 Gateshead - I need some money for players, says Fleet boss Liam Daish

EBBSFLEET UNITED 0-1 GATESHEAD
Blue Square Bet Premier
Saturday 8^th October 2011
Paul Parkinson reports from Stonebridge Road

EBBSFLEET UNITED slipped into the Blue Square Bet Premier relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat by promotion-chasing Gateshead, a result that takes the visitors back to the top of the table, for at least the next 24 hours.  
Jeff Henderson’s 40th minute header was the decider in an open end-to-end match, but one in which neither goalkeeper was really tested to an extreme.

Speaking to the gathered press after the game, boss Liam Daish was downcast, saying, “I’m frustrated that we’ve lost 1-0.  It’s disappointing, but I’m tired of repeating myself.  We defended poorly for their goal and we got into good positions, in the final third, but didn’t get enough on target or cause them enough problems.  

“We’re good in the first phase, but when we get to that final ball, the final cross, the final shot, it isn’t there at the moment.  That could be down to lack of confidence, but we’ve got to start scoring goals and keeping more clean sheets.””

This almost mirrored his comments after the 1-0 defeat last time out at Wrexham!

In a frantic opening spell, both sides had early chances, as Michael West and Craig Stone both failed to hit the target from the edge of the area for Ebbsfleet.  

But Fleet keeper Preston Edwards had to be at his best to parry away Jon Shaw’s first time effort after Yemi Odubade’s run and pass.

West then seized upon a sliced clearance from Gateshead keeper Paul Farman, who was put under pressure by Calum Willock, but pulled his shot wide of the right hand post.  

Again Gateshead went straight up to the other end where, in a similar incident, Edwards’ mistimed clearance fell to Odubade in the area but Ian Simpemba was on hand with a perfectly timed challenge to clear the danger.

From the resulting throw, Odubade forced Edwards into a save with his legs, as the striker suddenly found himself in space in the middle of the box.

Gateshead were reduced to ten men in the 26th minute as defender James Curtis was forced from the field with blood flowing from a cut over his right eye.  

In the 12 minutes he was receiving treatment from the Ebbsfleet doctor, the home side couldn’t make the man advantage count, as first John Herd volleyed past the post, then Willock swivelled onto a Herd cross, only to slice his shot into Farman’s arms.

Craig Baxter blazed a shot over on a rare Gateshead attack, as the visitors waited for Curtis’ return, before Ebbsfleet created two outstanding chances.  

First, West controlled a Herd cross in the box, but Chris Carruthers, filling in as a central defender, was able to stab the ball to the edge of the box, into the path of Stone, whose powerful drive was on target until it hit Phil Turnbull and diverted over the bar.

Soon after, Stone was able to feed the ball into Willock, who released Tom Phipp, but the midfielder’s shot was turned behind by Farman at full stretch.

Gateshead broke through in the 40th minute from a Kris Gate corner.  Somehow Jeff Henderson, a 19 year old defender on loan from neighbours Newcastle United, lost his marker and found himself clear in the middle of the box to power a header down and away from Edwards.

During the break, Daish made a change in personnel, replacing Herd with Lanre Azeez, and changing from a 3-5-2 formation to 4-4-2.  The formation change almost paid immediate dividends as West released Willock, who outpaced Henderson, driving into the six-yard box from the left wing, but his shot was deflected away by Farman’s right foot.

After the end-to-end action of the first half, the second was always going to struggle to match it.  Both sides resorted to playing long balls from back to front, looking to capitalise on any defensive slips, and Gateshead saw good chances go by as Micky Cummins failed to control a Turnbull cross and could only bundle the ball past the post.  Then Josh Gillies powered into the area, but Paul Lorraine’s sliding challenge meant the winger couldn’t get his shot away.

With 12 minutes left, Gate saw a shot blocked by Lorraine, then should have sealed the match, glancing a header from Odubade’s cross past the back post when it looked easier to score.

In stoppage time, Yado Mambo was able to retrieve a cross at the back post, flicking the ball back towards Willock, but match-winner Henderson was able to hook clear before Willock was able to sort out his feet.

With Ricky Shakes making his debut for Guyana in a 2-0 win over Barbados last night, Daish was upfront about where he feels Ebbsfleet are struggling, saying, “Three or four more players might make a difference at the moment.  The missing players (including injured Clint Easton and Liam Marum) won’t be involved Tuesday (against Luton) or Saturday, Ricky Shakes might be back for Saturday (against AFC Telford), so the squad at the moment is not good enough.”

“We’ve got problems if today is as good as we’ve got.  As I’ve said to the lads, they are working hard, but that’s the minimum we need, I’m not faulting that.  But when you go into the more technical stuff, the intelligence of playing football, the quality, if that is the best we’ve got then we’ve got a problem.”

“I can’t remember the last time I paid a transfer fee for someone, and we need money for players.  I’m going to games at the moment, watching players and just hoping something changes, but I’m just not hearing that.

“Yado (Mambo) should be here on loan for another week, but after that is up to Charlton’s generosity.  I’m trying very hard to get players in for nothing, but now we are literally looking at players for nothing, transfers, wages, the whole lot.  We are up against it at the moment.””

You feel that Daish’s final words were slightly tongue-in-cheek, but having spoken to Ebbsfleet’s manager before, there is always a steely meaning, as he said,  “The Luton game (at Stonebridge Road) should be another challenge, a nice easy game, I’m sure we’ll get some confidence back for that one.  I want to think that this will be the one where we get our next three points.””

Ebbsfleet United:  Preston Edwards, Craig Stone, John Herd (Lanre Azeez 46), Paul Lorraine, Michael West, Ram Marwa (Scott Ginty 72), Calum Willock, Tom Phipp, Joe Howe, Ian Simpemba, Yado Mambo.
Subs: Giannoulis Fakinos, Joe Welch, Alex Stavrinou.

Booked:  Ian Simpemba 90

Gateshead:  Paul Farman, Kris Gate, James Curtis, Phil Turnbull, Jon Shaw, Yemi Odubade (Martin Brittain 90), Micky Cummins, Craig Baxter, Josh Gillies (Nathan Fisher 83), Chris Carruthers, Jeff Henderson.
Subs: Eddie Odhiambo, Sam Rents, Jak Alnwick.

Goal: Jeff Henderson 40

Booked: Chris Carruthers 38, Nathan Fisher 88

Attendance: 947
Referee: Mr Warren Atkin
Assistants: Mr Robert Hodges &  Mr Kyle Kirkbride
Fourth Official: Mr Matt Eva