St Albans City’s bright start to the season faded further into the distance when a revitalised Ebbsfleet United hammered out a warning to the rest of the Conference South on Saturday during an engrossing 4-1 victory at Stonebridge Road.
Ebbsfleet, on this form, look to be the side that others will do well to contain over the coming winter months.
But, even as impressively as Steve Brown’s side played when ending a three-match goal drought, the Fleet still required assistance from a bizarre mix-up which led to the dismissal of City midfielder David Keenleyside midway through the second half.
Keenleyside replaced injured new signing Charlie Gorman on 65 minutes but just three minutes later was heading back to the dressing room after being shown two yellow cards in quick succession.
The 23-year-old, believing that he had been given the all-clear by linesman Garry Maskell, entered the field of play while Gorman received treatment.
A minute or so later the linesman called referee Constantine Hatzidakis across and Keenleyside was booked for going on without permission.
Then, on 68 minutes, a clearly frustrated Keenleyside went in recklessly on Dean Rance and left the referee with little option but to send the City player packing.
The dismissal could hardly have come at a less opportune time for the Saints who, after being completely outplayed during the first half, had pulled a goal back and were threatening to save the game.
But seeing the opposition go down to ten men was the spark Ebbsfleet needed to reignite their earlier passion and within a further six minutes the Kent side had moved into an unassailable three-goal lead with the likelihood of more to come.
After leaking four goals the previous week City made two changes. Gorman, on a one-month loan from Welling United, and Tom Ward, came in for Lee Clarke and the injured Darren Locke.
Ebbsfleet made four changes to the side beaten at Basingstoke in their most recent outing but, despite having made a disappointing start to the season, looked confident and attack minded from the off.
Under the watchful gaze of former player Gary Keen and short-term manager Barry Nevill, City made the first threat on goal with Steve Wales looping a header well off target following a James Comley free kick.
United looked full of zest and on 13 minutes scored their first goal in 322 minutes.
City captain Ben Martin lost possession to Billy Bricknell to the left of the penalty area and was booked for bringing the United striker down.
Anthony Cook played the free kick short to Daryl McMahon and, after receiving a return pass, hammered in a shot that was headed out for a corner.
Former Leyton Orient and Stevenage midfielder McMahon swung the corner into the penalty area where an unchallenged Charlie Sheringham headed in the opening goal.
From that moment on Ebbsfleet dominated the play until the interval and although St Albans were found wanting when defending set pieces there were several excellent interceptions and tackles made to stem the flow towards the visitors goal.
All four City defenders put in crucial blocks before Ebbsfleet, again from a set piece added a second goal on 33 minutes.
McMahon sent a free kick from out on the Fleet left towards the back post where Kenny Clark, with a great bit of improvisation, chested the ball into the path of Sheringham who, from 15 yards, drove a half volley to the left of the diving Joe Welch.
City created their clear chance of the half on 40 minutes. Wales broke free down the right and squared a pass to Sean Shields who was unable to get any power behind the shot and Preston Edwards saved with ease.
In the few remaining minutes of the half Welch became the busiest player on the pitch as he made excellent saves from Sheringham, Bricknell, Cook and Alex Osborn. St Albans were reeling.
City, under the sole leadership of Graham Golds as Jimmy Gray attended a wedding, made one alteration during the interval with ‘Giant Geoff’ Mitchell coming on for his debut.
The physical presence Mitchell could add to an attack failing to make inroads during the first half suggested that the Saints were looking for a long ball game after the break.
Fortunately that was not to be the case but the incredibly muscular Mitchell did win and glance on five headers in the first 15 minutes that he was on the pitch, but City could not turn them to their advantage.
Even so, the game did take a twist four minutes after the interval when a Shields cross from the right was headed against the crossbar by John Frendo with Wales pouncing onto the rebound to head home his fourth goal of the season.
And City ought to have pulled level when Shields, Frendo and Wales worked the ball across the pitch to Mitchell. Unfortunately the former Oxford City player opted for a wildly inaccurate cross that went out for a throw-in, when a shot at goal looked the better option.
Sensing the danger, Ebbsfleet upped the tempo again and created three decent chances in next to no time before Sheringham, put through by Shane Huke drove a clean strike straight at Welch that the City keeper punched away.
The Fleet continued to press forward and a hat-trick looked to be on for Teddy Sheringham’s boy when Osborn threaded the ball up to him.
But, after eluding both Martin and Ward, Sheringham rolled his shot narrowly wide of the target. It was one of a remarkable 24 efforts on goal that the home side had during the warm but hazy afternoon.
Although the majority of goalscoring opportunities centred around the City goal, the home side were still caused a few problems, but once Keenleyside carried out his swift disappearing act the outcome was as good as settled.
On 70 minutes Huke, the match sponsor’s man of the match, fed Bricknell who fired across Welch for his first goal of the season.
A rout looked to be unfolding as Welch did well to push a Bricknell shot onto the post while McMahon sliced a shot over the top after a terrific run, and Lee Chappell was fortunate not to concede a penalty when bundling into Sheringham.
Ebbsfleet scored an excellent fourth goal on 74 minutes when Cook’s cross from the left was headed back by Matt Godden for Bricknell to hammer home.
Ebbsfleet, having been expected to be amongst the pacesetters from the off this season, were determined to underline their quality with more goals during the latter stages but with Welch making two more good saves, and Sheringham having a goal disallowed for handball, the Saints escaped without any further damage.
City return to Clarence Park on Monday, 8th September, when Bromley are the visitors for a Conference South fixture. Kick off is at 7.45pm.
The City squad has undergone a few changes over recent days with the arrival of Gorman and Mitchell being balanced by the departure of Elliott Buchanan to Staines Town.
Midfielder Matt Taylor has been loaned to Arlesey Town while James Kaloczi is set to return to the fold after completing his loan at Wingate & Finchley.
Sam Corcoran and Darren Locke are expected to remain on the injury list for up to four and two weeks respectively. |
