Ebbsfleet United 1-3 Maidstone United - It's the beginning of an important week for us - Hume

Tuesday 26th January 2010

EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-3 MAIDSTONE UNITED
Kent Senior Cup Second Round
Tuesday 26th January 2010
Mike Green reports from Stonebridge Road

MAIDSTONE UNITED booked their place in the last eight of the Kent Senior Cup with a comfortable win at Stonebridge Road.

To be fair to Ebbsfleet United boss Liam Daish, only two of his side that beat Forest Green Rovers at the weekend started, whilst Maidstone’s starting eleven showed just four changes from their Saturday defeat against Boreham Wood.

Daish, who has aired his displeasure at the competition’s current structure before, clearly was treating the game as an exercise.

But that said his young side could have well taken as early as the fourth minute, when Steffan Bailey (one of the two to have played at the weekend), drilled in a cross from the left wing, which saw Scott Ginty shoot factionary wide of Jamie Turner’s right post.

The two sides then settled into a midfield battle, before on the half-hour, the visitors took the lead.

Jermaine Darlington broke free of the Ebbsfleet defence and although Gavin Heero did well to catch the Maidstone winger, his eventual cross found Lynden Rowland at the far post and although the striker’s initial header was well saved by keeper Matthew Lamperell, Rowland duly drilled home the rebound from 12-yards.

The Fleet should have been level at half-time, however, as Chris Henry had a free header (from a Jordan Collins cross), which he succeeded only heading straight at Turner.

The second half began with Ebbsfleet in the ascendancy, with Ishmael Welsh cut in from the right wing to test Turner from the edge of the box.

Maidstone though were to double their advantage on 66 minutes when a long cross into the Fleet penalty area was nodded down by substitute James Pinnock for Jay Saunders to rifle home from the edge of the box.

Pinnock was then only denied a marvellous solo goal by a brilliant tackle from Steve Springett and Gabriel Odunaike shot straight at Lamprell after another mazy run from Pinnock.

The Stones sealed their progress on 77 minutes when substitute Danny Hockton was allowed to run and shoot from the half-way line - his 20-yarder nestling beyond the keeper’s dive into the bottom corner.

Ebbsfleet United did pull a goal back three minutes later when Henry headed home at the far post and although shortly after Ginty forced Turner into a smart save, Maidstone United were comfortably through to the next round.

Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish admitted after wards ,when speaking on BBC Radio Kent, that the level of importance of progress wasn't too high on his wish list.

He said, "Tonight, gave my fringe players 90 minutes as they haven't played a lot recently.

I played a couple of the boys (Bailey and Crooks) who benefited more from tonight than the training session the other guys had earlier on, but even with them I was praying that they just got through the game in on piece.

“I don't want to pick any injuries up with what we've got coming up! Some of the younger lads did OK - its been a game tonight where we wouldn't have gained a lot if we'd have won and haven't lost anything by losing - its a poor competition; I think its more of a hindrance and that's not sour grapes, I just don't like the competition!"

Stones boss Lloyd Hume however was delighted with his sides performance as he put it "we played a mix and match team and partnered two youngsters at centre half today for the first time today and they acquitted themselves very well, and as the game went on, I do believe that we were worthy of the win in the end."

“It’s the start of an important week for us tonight - it was vital that we didn't lose after losing on Saturday to Boreham Wood when I was disappointed with the performance.

“I'm happy with the performance tonight - it proved we can play football on a decent pitch - and the confidence that it will give us to take into another game against Conference opposition when we go to Salisbury in the FA Trophy on Saturday, but we know well and truly how difficult its going to be for us to get into the last 16!”

Ebbsfleet United: Matthew Lamprell, Stefan Bailey (Will Salmon 70), Jordan Collins, Gavin Herroo, Leon Crooks (Aidan Sherlock 75), Steve Springett, Michael West (Jamie Forshaw 57), Chris Henry, Scott Ginty, Kane Wills, Ishmael Welsh.

Subs: Tom Phipp, Joe Hagan

Goal: Chris Henry 80

Maidstone United: Jamie Turner, Nathan Paul, Jermaine Darlington (Shannon O'Donovan 62), Tom Parkinson, James Peacock, Keelan Murphy (James Pinnock 46), Jay Saunders, Gabriel Odunaike, Lynden Rowland (Danny Hockton 36), Ant Bodle.

Sub: Adam Harris

Booked : Ant Bodle 79

Goals: Lynden Rowland 30, Jay Saunders 66, Danny Hockton 77

Attendance: 260

Referee:

Assistants: