Kentish Football

Ebbsfleet United 2-3 AFC Wimbledon - Ex Dover star Sammy Moore sends Ebbsfleet crashing out

Thursday 18th November 2010
EBBSFLEET UNITED 2 - 3 AFC WIMBLEDON
(after extra time)
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Round Replay
Thursday 18th November 2010

EBBSFLEET UNITED suffered FA Cup heartbreak at Stonebridge Road tonight, as Sammy Moore popped up with late, late goals at the end of both normal and extra-time to take AFC Wimbledon through to meet Stevenage in the FA Cup Second Round in 9 days time. 

Having deservedly seen their first half efforts rewarded with a 2-1 lead courtesy of two Ashley Carew goals, Ebbsfleet players all over the field gave every physical effort to maintain the lead, but two classy Moore finishes eventually snatched glory away from the Fleet.

AFC Wimbledon boss, Terry Brown, was suitably magnanimous in his praise for Liam Daish‘s charges saying that he thought his side got out of jail, whereas a naturally despondent Daish said afterwards,
“We‘re on the floor, it‘s hard to take. Sometimes it‘s not meant to be. The timing of the two goals was unbelievable and I don‘t think the lads deserve to be out of the FA Cup as they were magnificent.””

Ebbsfleet, having dominated the 'bore draw' at Kingmeadow 11 days ago, came out quicker with the trio of Calum Willock, Ricky Shakes and Michael West causing consternation within the Wimbledon defence. As early as 80 seconds into the match, West saw his low shot turned round the post by Seb Brown.

But against the run of play, the visitors took the lead on 9 minutes. Former Dover midfielder, Sammy Moore broke from the centre of the pitch and released Ryan Johnson, whose deep cross was headed back across goal by ex-Fleet loanee Rashid Yussuff for Mark Nwokeji to wrong-foot Preston Edwards and plant his diving header into the bottom corner.

But Ebbsfleet were back level within three minutes. Tom Phipp‘s powerful run into the area was ended by a clumsy challenge from full-back Andre Blackman and Mr Hill pointed to the spot immediately. 

Ashley Carew, sent off in the original tie but whose suspension doesn‘t start until Saturday, unlike Wimbledon‘s Christian Jolley, who missed tonight‘s replay, stepped up to calmly send Brown the wrong way. 

Daish said he was glad that his charges had found a way back into the match so quickly, but that they had to remain calm and wait for their opportunities.

After Carew had seen an effort fly into the Dons‘ supporters in the Swanscombe End, the same man put Ebbsfleet in front on 18 minutes with a finish of real quality. 

A long ball into the box from West caused panic and Moore‘s slip saw the ball break to the edge of the area, where Carew released a curling effort in off the post, leaving Brown watching on in horror.

The rest of the half was a story of Wimbledon pressure, especially through the dangerous Jackson on the right side, but invariably either Paul Lorraine or Clint Easton found themselves in the right place to blunt the attacks.

Carew had the chance to complete a first half hat-trick in stoppage time, but saw Brown pull of a wonderful full-length save at his near post, before Steven Gregory blazed over after Edwards had blocked a Moore volley that came through a crowd of players.

After the efforts of the first half, it was understandable that Ebbsfleet would find it hard to match the early efforts, and they could have been pegged back when Danny Kedwell somehow steered the ball over from 4 yards after Edwards had parried Blackman‘s early shot.

Fleet had their chances to make the game safe; Marwa‘s swerving shot causing Brown some discomfort and Carew firing over, but the Blue Square Premier leaders began to take control. 

Substitute Ricky Wellard fired a 25 yard effort into the side netting, then Yussuff, by now playing from left back, broke into the Fleet box, but couldn‘t test Edwards with a low shot.

Stoppage time was a backs to the wall job with Lorraine again to the fore, although maybe the former Don was fortunate not to concede a penalty when Yussuff‘s shot appeared to strike his arm. 

But Wimbledon‘s pressure eventually told, as another ex-Fleet favourite, Luke Moore‘s hopeful cross found Sammy Moore unmarked inside the box, and he steered the ball past Edwards to send the match into extra-time.

Suddenly, Sammy Moore found himself central to the game against a tiring Ebbsfleet defence, and would have been disappointed not to do better, twice skying efforts set up for him by crosses from Jackson and Kedwell respectively. 

Then Luke Moore was twice denied by Preston Edwards; firstly turning Moore‘s 20 yard shot round the post, then pulling off a fantastic almost point-blank save to keep his side in the tie when glory beckoned for the Dons‘ substitute.

With neither side wanting to make the crucial mistake, chances were at a premium in the second period of extra time, but Fleet had loud appeals for another penalty waved away when Willock was bundled over by Yakubu‘s challenge. 

But both Gareth Williams and Joe Howe will wish their efforts could have tested Brown rather than making the fans in the Northfleet end duck for cover, before Kedwell fired Jackson‘s cross over.

But Ebbsfleet‘s dreams were dashed in the last minute with the lottery of penalties beckoning, as Luke Moore‘s lob into the box cleared the advancing Fleet defence, and Sammy Moore, having beaten the offside appeals, had time to control the ball before steering his shot into the corner.

Ebbsfleet United:  Preston Edwards, Craig Stone, Derek Duncan, Ashley Carew (Joe Howe 81), Clint Easton, Paul Lorraine, Michael West (Gareth A Williams 103), Ram Marwa, Calum Willock, Ricky Shakes (Scott Ginty 117), Tom Phipp.
Subs: Chris Henry, Dean Pooley, Joe Hagan (gk), Aiden Sherlock.

Goals: Ashley Carew 12 (pen), 18

Booked: Ashley Carew 61, Tom Phipp 88

AFC Wimbledon: Seb Brown, Ryan Jackson, Andre Blackman (Ricky Wellard 75), Steven Gregory, Ismail Yakubu, Sam Hatton, Danny Kedwell, Sammy Moore, Fraser Franks (Brett Johnson 46), Mark Nwokeji (Luke Moore 78), Rashid Yussuff.
Subs: Jon Main, Jack Turner, Ed Harris (gk).

Goals: Mark Nwokeji 9, Sammy Moore 90, 120

Booked: Sammy Moore 10, Danny Kedwell 68, Steven Gregory 76

Attendance: 2,306
Referee: Mr Keith Hill








 

Created by Red Dragon I.T. Ltd