October Update
Ebbsfleet United F.C. VS. Dartford F.C.
Local Derby and FA Cup Qualifier 4th Round
This was going to be a huge game as I wanted to progress further in FA Cup and get one up over our Vanarama Conference Rivals-(remember we are still in south division)
The FA Cup draw picked us to play at home, our fortress where we have not lost or drawn a single game yet this season.
2092 people are in the attendance for this game, the biggest this season. Both teams come onto the pitch, Ebbsfleet led by leading scorer Kedwell.
Whistle blows and the game gets underway. Ebbsfleet is under pressure straight away for 14 mins with numerous shots testing Maddison. Hayes finally breaks our defence and scores from a tight angle. Dejected, Ebbsfleet restart the game and this time they are in control as Dartford start sitting back to protect their lead.
Shot after shot was wasted as the lads tried their luck from way out, causing me to tell the lads just work the ball into the box. Our breakthrough moment comes as Gower passes the ball towards Shields deep on the right wing who then adjusts his body and whips in a cross towards the near post where Kedwell meets and strikes on the volley into the net!
Crowd roars and Ebbsfleet are back in the game. Lads continue to press the opposition till the whistle blows for half time. Second half saw the same from Ebbsfleet passing the ball around, testing the Dartford defence. Chances dried up as neither team could find a breakthrough and game finished as stalemate. Obviously I would have preferred to win this than having to go to do a replay but the lads were tired and felt it was a fair result between the teams.
The replay match was scheduled to be play on Wednesday following the last game. Thankfully our other matches were postponed till later in the season.
Local Derby and FA Cup Qualifier 4th Round Replay
Wet, muddy and **** playing surface summed up the Replay game.
This time I decided to go all out attack and started the team with the 4-2-4 with wingers.
Dartford started the match poorly with Lee Burns sent off for sliding in on Alex Osborn. With one man advantage we scored the first goal of the match with Shields whipping in the cross that Kedwell volleyed into the net. Dartford after the setbacks started to counter attack and almost got away with a few chances.
After the first half break the boys got another goal from a set piece. Mark Gower sets up the cross for Bonner, attacking the near post heads it in. Think the game was over by now? Wrong. Dartford replied instantly with Harris scoring from 20 yards out. Then after our attack broke down deep in their half, they swiftly countered attack and Maddison was picking the ball out of the net as Harris celebrated his second after getting free in the penalty area.
Fuming at Dartfords comeback, I made substitution changes and this had a knock on effect with Risser supplying Osborn the ball which in turn was passed to Kedwell in the penalty area, taking all the time in the world to apply the finish. Dartford struck back quickly again with another 20 yard goal scored by Bradbrook. Chances were missed from both teams and tiredness kicked in as the game stopped at 90 mins 3-3.
Extra Time
With no substitutions left and having the man advantage, I went full on attack, knowing that Dartford players were more exhausted than mine. We dominated the possession and had two corners to score from. But half time approached and I told the lads to go hard or go home. We had four corners in row that were dealt with easily by Dartford. 119th min, our fifth corner, Gower exhausted, swung the ball in and the man of the match Tom Bonner met the ball with a fierce header into the goal! Celebrations erupted from the sidelines as the team mobbed Bonner.