Kentish Football 
Ebbsfleet United 4-0 Welling United - It was men against boys, admits sorry Jamie Day
Tuesday 09th November 2010
EBBSFLEET UNITED 4-0 WELLING UNITED
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 9th November 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Stonebridge Road
WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day issued an apology to supporters following his side’s heavy beating away to Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United.
It was a night to forget for the Wings as they found themselves 3-0 down at the break before conceding a late fourth, as goals from Michael West (two), Calum Willock and substitute Joe Howe stretched The Fleet’s unbeaten run to fourteen games as the hosts climbed into fifth place in the Blue Square Bet South table - two places and two points behind the Wings with two games in hand.
Welling United went into this game high on confidence, winning their last four games and scoring 15 goals in the process, but failed to call Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Preston Edwards into making a single save during a woeful 90 minutes.
“I was disappointed with the first half where as I don’t think the ref helped us,” Day told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after he emerged from a downbeat away dressing room.
“We didn’t deserve to get anything from the game, we defended poorly and I think we gave them too much time and I don’t think we were strong enough today. I think it was men against boys especially in the first half.
“We’ve had a good run until now and today was probably the first time where I felt we’ve not performed and we’ve took a beating.”
Day added: “I just don’t think some of us turned up today, especially the first half. Second half we done a bit better but I suppose you’re going to expect that when you’re 3-0 down.
“We created bits and bobs but not enough. We didn’t win enough balls today and it’s disappointing and we’ve got to get our heads down and come again on Saturday.”
The central midfielder did issue an apology to his fans, saying, “I’ve said all along our main aim was to get into the top six and I stressed earlier in the year I didn’t want people to get carried away. We’ve got a young side who are going to have games like tonight and we’ve got to apologise to the fans tonight.”
However, if you’re an Ebbsfleet fan - and manager Liam Daish - you will be very pleased that the home side won the first League meeting between these two Kent clubs in 24 years.
There was simply only one team in the game tonight and The Fleet dominated from start to finish and their football was a joy to watch and striker Willock and right-sided midfielder West were impressive during this demolition.
But it could have been a different story had Day drove a right-footed shot into Edwards’ net early on - instead of blasting Luis Cumbers’ centre high over the bar.
Ebbsfleet left-back Derek Duncan floated in a cross which saw West get in front of his marker to plant his header just over, before, at the other end, Graeme Andrews met Day’s first corner of the game with a header across goal, which dropped just wide.
The game was played at a high tempo and Willock’s skill saw him carve open a chance for West, but the youngster curled a low right-footed shot agonisingly past the foot of the far post.
Welling keeper Gareth Stewart made his first save to deny Ram Marwa from 25-yards, before the home side had a goal ruled out after 21 minutes.
Duncan turned provider when his cross was nodded on by Tom Phipp and the flag had gone up by the time Willock’s looping header dropped into the net.
But when dominant Ebbsfleet United broke the deadlock just three minutes later they never looked back and made Welling United look a very poor side.
The Wings defence couldn’t deal with Willock all night and it was his cross from the left which picked out the in-form West, who nodded down and left Stewart rooted to the spot as the ball bounced into the net.
Welling’s defence went asleep when faced with a Craig Stone free-kick. The left-back played a clever through ball to Willock, who turned and smashed a low drive towards the near post, but Stewart made a fine block with his legs.
It was no surprise when the home side doubled their lead after 34 minutes.
Ashley Carew, who was controversially sent off during Ebbsfleet’s goal-less draw at Blue Square Bet Premier side AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup First Round at the weekend, smashed a free-kick into the wall and West converted his ninth goal of the season from the rebound, sweeping the ball home into the bottom near corner.
A confident Carew then picked the ball up and tried his luck from distance, but the ball flashed wide with Welling in complete disarray.
Poor defending again gifted The Fleet a third goal on the stroke of half-time.
Phipp’s ball over the top saw Willock beat the slack defence at ease and the powerfully built striker swept the ball confidently past the bemused Stewart.
Day made a double substitution at the break, bringing on Joe Healy and Anthony Acheampong and his side did at least show a little bit more desire that was evidently lacking during the first half.
They did create a couple of chances from deliveries from their player-manager but Coyle glanced a header across goal and wide following a corner and Cumbers skied a volley following Day’s ball over the top of the Fleet defence from halfway.
Fleet almost increased their lead halfway in the half when Carew’s audacious 35-yard free-kick bounced off the underside of the crossbar, despite Stewart’s efforts to tip the ball to safety.
Stewart was twice called into action after winger-turned-striker Ricky Shakes cut in from the left after being released and causing right-back Coyle problems with his pace.
But the Fleet wrapped up their best performance of the season with nine minutes remaining, courtesy of Howe’s first touch of the game.
Willock was released straight through the heart of the Wings defence and his fierce drive forced Stewart into making his best save of the game - diving to his left to beat the ball away - but Howe (who was following up) smashed a volley across the goalkeeper to find the bottom far corner.
Another substitute, Gareth Williams, almost repeated the feat of scoring with his first touch, but the former Bromley striker rolled his shot just past the right-hand post with only the keeper to beat.
Ebbsfleet United boss Liam Daish was clearly delighted with the impressive performance from his side,
Looking to retain their Blue Square Bet Premier status at the first attempt following relegation.
Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, the bearded Daish said: “Great first half. I thought we really came out of the blocks very quickly and passed the ball well. We were very positive, decisive and our finishing was good. The quality of our goals was good.
“We defended well, we were on the front foot and probably one of the best performances in the first half, most definitely, I’ve seen here.
“The way we shut down and the way we worked hard, not only did we play some good football and scored four goals, we’ve worked hard today - and good sides work hard - and today I thought we’ve put in a hard working shift in as well.”
When asked whether he thought it was his side’s best performance of the season, Daish replied, “Well people will say that because of the goals. I think all round, obviously goals do make the difference to a performance, scoring four goals and keeping a clean sheet against a side that’s done very well this year and have had some great results, so I suppose in front of our fans, definitely!
“I said to the lads earlier on the challenge was could they match the standards that they set themselves on Saturday (away to AFC Wimbledon), today, when there’s not the atmosphere here of the FA Cup even though it was a very important game. I thought they did that and that’s credit to them, their attitude was spot on.”
Daish takes his side to Maidenhead United on Saturday before welcoming AFC Wimbledon to Stonebridge Road in a televised FA Cup First Round replay on Thursday 18th November (7:45pm).
Daish hopes their Kent rivals Bromley agree to re-arrange their FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Qualifying Round tie.
He said: “We’re talking to Bromley because I think it’s fair that we’ll be able to play on the Sunday, maybe that’s an option that we’re trying to do, but when the television companies start calling and there’s the money I don’t think we’re going to turn that down.”
Tonight’s emphatic derby day win has enhanced The Fleet’s promotion chances.
“It’s good. It’s good stuff,” said Daish. “Hopefully the fans are appreciating the lads’ working hard for the club and being amongst it.
“I’d rather be up where I was (the Blue Square Bet Premier). I’m still very bitter and I don’t enjoy being in this division to be fair.
“Yes, I enjoy the players and I think if I had the team I had now with maybe a few of last year’s I let go, we would’ve stayed up but we’ve had a good start of the season and that’s the difference where as last year for whatever reason we had a poor start.
“This year we’ve had a good start and it gains momentum, it gains confidence. You’ve got points on the board and everyone feels a little bit better.”
Day, meanwhile, demands that his side bounce back from tonight’s embarrassment by beating Havant & Waterlooville at Park View Road on Saturday.
“The first half we didn’t deserve anything, we got exactly what we got out of the performance, nothing!” said Day.
“We’ve got to look at it now and bounce back like we have done when we’ve lost previous games. We’ve got a tough three or four games coming up. It’s not going to be easy now so we’ve got to regroup and try and get back on a winning run.
“It’s been a bad day at the office today. It’s probably the first time this year and probably the first time since I’ve been here where we’ve not performed and deserved to get heavily beat so we’ve got to bounce back and put a run of games together. We’re not panicking. It’s just disappointing when we get beat like that.
“I don’t think we turned up at all,” added Day. “Second half was ok but they’re a strong side that play to their strengths. We’ll look at it on the video and see where we could’ve done better and obviously put it right the next time we play.
“We’ll go away, we’ll take our beating that we’ve got tonight and hopefully we’ll come back a little bit stronger.”
Welling United fans will be disappointed to know that BBC Radio Kent only interviewed the Ebbsfleet manager after the game. Poor coverage, especially considering that Welling United are in fact a Kent club!
Ebbsfleet United: Preston Edwards, Craig Stone, Derek Duncan, Ashley Carew, Clint Easton (Dean Pooley 87), Paul Lorraine, Michael West, Ram Marwa, Calum Willock (Gareth Williams 87), Ricky Shakes, Tom Phipp (Joe Howe 79).
Subs: Chris Henry, Joe Hagan.
Goals: Michael West 24, 34, Calum Willock 45, Joe Howe 81
Welling United: Gareth Stewart, Jamie Coyle, Jack Obersteller, Jamie Day, Graeme Andrews (Anthony Acheampong 46), Jack Parkinson, Loui Fazakerley (Joe Healy 46), Lee Clarke, Luis Cumbers, Andrew Pugh, Loick Pires.
Subs: Jordan Johnson, Osa Obamwonyi, Andy Sambrook.
Booked: Graeme Andrews 3, Jamie Day 67, Anthony Acheampong 69, Joe Healy 90
Attendance: 947
Referee: Mr Ian Rathbone (Northampton)
Assistants: Mr Wayne Chalmers (Northampton) & Mr Mark Wardell (Wellingborough, Northamptonshire)
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