Ebbsfleet United 1-2 Salisbury City - Daish: We've got to stick together

Tuesday 29th September 2009

EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-2 SALISBURY CITY
Blue Square Premier
Tuesday 29th September 2009
Paul Parkinson reports from Stonebridge Road

VETERAN Paul McCarthy‘s stoppage time goal was not enough to get Ebbsfleet United back into the game, as two late, late goals of their own snatched the points for Salisbury City.

A disjointed match, one where neither attack or defence dominated, suddenly came to life in the closing minutes, with Chris Flood and Robbie Sinclair appearing to seal the game, before McCarthy‘s goal gave the home support hope.

For the first 35 minutes, it was easy to see why Ebbsfleet are the lowest scorers in the Blue Square Premier, as neither side was able to get a foothold in the game, but wasteful approach play meant that goalkeepers Lance Cronin and James Bittner were virtual spectators.

In reality, the only cutting edge to the game came from Salisbury left-winger, Chris Flood, who was a constant threat.

In spite of this, once Liam Daish switched his formation to 4-4-2, the Fleet could, and probably should, have taken control of the game.

Ricky Shakes, moved from a central striking position to a more natural right-side, suddenly found space to attack crosses. His efforts; a weak header straight at Bittner, and a 20-yard volley over the bar were indicative of the first half.

Following a Shakes cross, Stefan Bailey had a chance from the edge of the box, but blazed wide with time to compose himself. At this, a packet of water bottles bore the brunt of Daish‘s frustration. But, credit to Mr Goddard, the 4th official, who took the incident in the right spirit and understanding, even though the Fleet manager had to retrieve one bottle from the field of play.

Ebbsfleet were grateful to Cronin‘s bravery at the half closed, diving at the feet of Flood, after the winger had out-paced Gavin Heeroo.

The second half was a more open affair, as Salisbury‘s substitutions opened up the game.

Within the first few minutes, Ebbsfleet’s Luis Cumbers saw a glancing header settle in the side netting, before ex-Gillingham full-back, Sean Clohessy, saw a pin-point free-kick powered against the post by Joe Oastler for the visitors’.

Shakes, again, was unfortunate not to finish Ebbsfleet‘s best move of the match; flowing football via Heeroo and Cumbers, before the ball wouldn‘t come down and Shakes was forced into a snap-volley over the bar.

Goalkeeper Bittner then came to the Whites’ rescue, saving shots from the edge of the box from Kane Wills, Magno Vieira and Heeroo.

But the game changed on 88, when Daniel Webb broke into the Fleet half at pace. His cross field ball found sub Matthew Tubbs, whose cross was met with a flying header by Flood.

As the ball bounced back off the right hand post, with Cronin grounded, Flood recovered to tap into the empty net.

The visitors appeared to have sealed the game two minutes later, when another quick break saw Tubbs centre again from the right, and this time fellow sub, Sinclair, was on hand to steer a diving header in off the same right hand post.

With the match in stoppage time, Bailey managed to squeeze a cross over.

Leon Crooks, thrown forward in a desperate effort, produced an acrobatic air-shot, but as the ball ran loose, McCarthy fired home from an acute angle. Unfortunately, this was too little, too late.

Fleet boss Daish, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk during the post-match press conference, was understandably downcast after the game.

He said: “It‘s disappointing again, it‘s the same story as Saturday. We can‘t just keep letting good possession go, we‘ve got to make it count when we get in good areas; we couldn‘t produce enough in the final third.

“Teams are believing they are still in the game; it‘s gut-wrenching really. At the end of the day, you‘ve got to take your chances; we‘ve got to be more single-minded and get balls into areas quicker, better quality crossing.”

“I haven‘t enjoyed the start to this season at all; I‘ve never had this as a player, coach or manager before and I guess some of the players haven‘t been in this position before.

“They‘ll get to know what sort of characters they are. It‘s a challenge and it‘s something where you can grit your teeth, work hard and prove a few doubters wrong.

“I couldn‘t fault their work-rate, just as I couldn‘t Saturday, but I‘ve told them we‘ve got to stick together, find some inner strength.”"

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Gavin Heeroo, Paul McCarthy, Magno Vieira (Scott Ginty 80), Ishmael Welsh, Kane Wills, Ricky Shakes, Leon Crooks, Stefan Bailey, Darius Charles, Luis Cumbers.

Subs: Dean Pooley, Jamie Forshaw, Scott, Shulton, Matthew Lamprell.

Goal: Paul McCarthy 90

Salisbury City: James Bittner, Sean Clohessy, Luke Ruddick (Matthew Tubbs 55), Stuart Anderson, Jamie Turley (Patrick Cox 46), Daniel Webb, Darrell Clarke, Lee Brown, Chris Flood, Joe Oastler (Robbie Sinclair 67), Luke Prosser.

Subs: Daniel Spence, Toby Osman.

Goals: Chris Flood 88, Robbie Sinclair 90

Booked: Luke Prosser 88

Attendance: 792

Referee: Stephen Ross

Assistants: Mr Robert Hyde (Shoreditch, London E2) & Mr David Spain (Westfields, East Sussex)

Fourth Official: Mr Tony Goddard