Wrexham 3-2 Ebbsfleet United - Daish rues sloppy defending

WREXHAM 3-2 EBBSFLEET UNITED
Blue Square Premier
Saturday 13^th September 2008
Mike Green and Paul Parkinson report from The Racecourse Ground

EBBSFLEET UNITED’S first ever visit to the Racecourse Ground saw their six match unbeaten run ended by a combination of defending that left manager Liam Daish bemused, and the old boy returning to haunt you jinx!

For whilst Darius Charles was undoubtedly man-of-the-match, the Fleet defence allowed Jefferson Louis (who had a spell on Loan at Stonebridge Road two seasons ago) to score two of the easiest goals he’s ever likely to.

Daish was left bemoaning some of his side’s defending, exclaiming afterwards to BBC Radio Kent: “How can we come to a place like this and defend so poorly? We gave them their first two goals and that really has given us a mountain that we couldn’t climb!”

The Fleet took the game to the former Football League club in the early stages with stand-in skipper Jamie Hand outstanding in the middle of the park.

Indeed, at one point in the opening quarter the home side couldn’t get a kick such was the Fleet’s dominance of possession.

When the Dragons did find a way through Charles was regularly in the right place to break up any attack from the north Welsh side.

And with James Smith returning from injury alongside him the Fleet looked very secure.

It was only when Louis and strike partner Shaun Whalley began interchanging that the Fleet defence became seriously tested.

Indeed, on the 20 minute mark, Levi Mackin hit the outside of Lance Cronin’s left-post with the keeper well beaten.

Five minutes later the Fleet deservedly took the lead thanks to the accuracy of Stacy Long’s right boot. The Fleet player-of-the-year centred from the left and Neil Barrett, arriving late, stooped to head home.

Charles then saw a header whistle narrowly wide before the home side levelled with the Fleet defence caught napping.

A quick free-kick from Wrexham skipper Tom Kearney was played in behind Smith for Louis, and as the striker shot the ball seemed to ricochet off the Ebbsfleet defender and into the net.

As the first half entered stoppage time only Barrett will know how he didn’t give the Fleet the lead for the second time.

A long free-kick from Mark Ricketts was headed back across goal by Michael Gash and Barrett, eight-yards out, with seemingly too much time drove the shot wide when he should really at least have hit the target.

Wrexham took advantage of their let-off and took the lead six minutes after the break with one of the simplest goals that you’re ever likely to see.

Whalley received the ball wide on the right and after beating Sacha Opinel crossed for his strike partner Louis to head home from six-yards with the Fleet defence looking round questioning their marking.

And for a while the home side dominated play and possession but attack-after-attack foundered on the rock that was Charles.

On 65 minutes, Barrett somehow knew it wasn’t going to be his day for after Wrexham keeper Gavin Ward could only palm out Rickett’s cross to Gash.

His shot was blocked by the defence and Barrett following up saw his goal bound drive somehow headed behind by central defender Steve Evans, who in midweek began the first non-league player to be capped by Wales at full-international level in their 2-1 defeat in Moscow.

From the resulting corner Gash this time produced a thumping header which Ward, rolling back the years, somehow managed to palm over the bar.

With the Fleet pressing for the equaliser it was perhaps inevitable that they would get caught on the break. And so it proved!

With thirteen minutes to go Wrexham winger Simon Brown reacted quickest to a loose ball around the Ebbsfleet area and when he looked destined to score all Charles could do was to take his legs from under him and from the spot Brown’s hard and true penalty gave Cronin no chance.

And full credit though to the Fleet as they refused to accept defeat as Ward produced a wonderful one-handed save from Hand, low to his right.

And substitute Kezie Ibe, on for Ricky Shakes, had a shot which beat Ward only for Evans to clear off the line.

As the match moved into stoppage time the Fleet grabbed a vital lifeline when Gash was on hand to convert excellent approach play from Luke Moore and Barrett.

In the three minutes that remained unfortunately the ball saw more time with the red of Wrexham than the green of Ebbsfleet.

Annoyed and frustrated at the final whistle Daish admitted to BBC Radio Kent that it had been “a disappointing and frustrating afternoon.

He said: “As I’ve just told the players to get over this next week we must start again and go on another run.”

With three players missing on international duty with England C in Bosnia on Tuesday, Daish will know that his side will surely play worse than this in the coming months and steal all the points.

He said: “How can I moan at them when we should be leaving here with all three points. Yes, it’s a tough place to come but I felt we were more than worthy.”

Wrexham: Ward, Spender, Steve Evans, Kempson, Tremarco, Simon Brown, Kearney, Mackin (Baynes 75), Taylor (Proctor 46), Louis (Smith 75), Whalley.
Subs Not Used: Anthony Williams, Mike Williams.

Goals: Jefferson Louis 37, 51, Simon Brown 77 (pen)

Booked: Kearney, Louis.

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Mark Ricketts, James Smith, Darius Charles, Sacha Opinel (Danny Slatter 81), Ricky Shakes (Kezie Ibe 55), Jamie Hand, Neil Barrett, Stacy Long, Luke Moore, Michael Gash.
Subs: Dan Pooley, Sam Mott, Craig Stone.

Goals: Neil Barrett 27, Michael Gash 90

Booked: Jamie Hand, James Smith, Darius Charles

Attendance: 3,132
Referee: Mr S Rushton (Lancashire)