KENTISH FOOTBALL ARE SO PROUD OF THE FLEET: We were spot on, says two-goal hero McPhee

PENALTY KING Chris McPhee admitted he felt nervous before stepping up and scoring Ebbsfleet United’s second penalty during their famous 3-1 win over Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot Town in the FA Carlsberg Trophy semi-final first leg yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The versatile Eastbourne born player, 24, had given the Kent side a dream start by scoring from the penalty spot with just four minutes and 54 seconds into yesterday’s Stonebridge Road clash.

Chukki Eribenne was fouled by David Winfield just inside the penalty area and referee Dean Whitestone pointed to the spot again after 37 minutes after Anthony Charles fouled striker John Akinde.

And McPhee smashed that penalty straight down the middle and was relieved when Aldershot goalkeeper Nikki Bull dived out of the way.

“We had a little bit of a chat before the game and we said we have to start well against Aldershot,” McPhee told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We needed to really come out the traps quickly and give them a good going over in the first five or ten minutes and establish ourselves and fortunately our centre forwards have troubled them and we’ve got a penalty and we’re one nil up inside the first five minutes and we’ve taken it from there.

“I’ve taken penalties wherever I’ve been. I’m confident in my own ability (that) I’m going to score every time I’m going to take one so I don’t feel the nerves.

“To be honest when the second one came along I felt a little bit of a flutter. It’s the first time I’ve ever been nervous because I was a little unsure whether to go the same way or change it so luckily the keeper’s dived straight out of the way and it’s two-nil.

McPhee admitted Aldershot Town, a side that were 24 points clear off the Fleet going into the first-leg tie, were stunned by Fleet’s determined start.

It was only until the second half, aided by a triple substitution at the break, that we saw just how dominating the Shots can be. Expect the same treatment when the two sides meet again in Hampshire next Saturday.

“Well I think that was down to us really,” said McPhee. "I mean we really came at them and as far as I’m concerned I think they were a little bit taken aback by how we came out at them and obviously the goals have given them a little bit of a knock as well so we’ve got to take credit from that.

“We know that we can get amongst them and put them under pressure and we’ve got no fears when we go back to the Recreation Ground next week.”

McPhee admitted that he was at fault for allowing Charles to head Scott Davies’ free-kick across the face of goal that enabled substitute Junior Mendes to score his first goal for the club from close range that brought Aldershot Town back from the dead after 76 minutes.

He said: “When they came out at half-time they made three changes, they put all their eggs in one basket to really go out and get something out of the game.

“And to be fair they threatened a little bit especially early doors in the second half.

“Unfortunately it was my fault (for) the goal. My man got away from me and headed it back across and I was furious with myself that I lost my man and they were back in it.

“We’re a young, confident side playing well in the game and we feel as though we can score at anytime. But we bounced back (through Paul McCarthy) pretty quick. We always knew we were capable of scoring again.

“We had a couple more chances later on in the game as well. We felt we thoroughly deserved the win today and a comfortable win really.”

All attention turns to the visit of Rushden & Diamonds in a vital Blue Square Premier game on Tuesday night at Stonebridge Road.

The Fleet are nine points adrift of the final play-off berth with sixteen league games to play in a hectic last seven weeks of the season.

But heroic Fleet must take advantage of their games in hand if their to finish this campaign in the play-off’s.

“We know if we can go into Tuesday’s game and pick up another three points we’re there and there about’s because we’ve got those games in hand,” said McPhee.

“We’re in good form, the boys are buzzing, we’re a young fit squad.

“We don’t seem to be worried too much about the fitness levels because everyone seems to be flying about.

“We play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday right to the end of the season. The boys are loving their football. I mean you can’t get a team who are loving their football out of a run really.

“Once they’re in a run, playing well, week in week out we’re confident that we’ll be winning every game and we’ll be going out to win every single game.

“And next week if we don’t get beat - or we’ll win that game - we’re at Wembley and also we’re pushing for the play-off’s.

“We’re in a place right now where it can make or break our careers as a club and as individuals.”

Praising the Fleet support, McPhee who spent a loan spell with Aldershot in 2005, added: “The support was fantastic. Even when we came out for the warm-up there was hell of a lot more fans at the game than usual and we knew there was going to be a good atmosphere and they really got behind us.”

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website:  www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Ebbsfleet United v Rushden & Diamonds
Blue Square Premier
Tuesday 11^th March 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9GN