Report: Fleet Wound Mags in Second Half Defeat

It was a disappointing first away defeat for Ryan Peters’ Magpies as three second half goals ensured the points remained in Kent despite a good first half performance. 

 

Peters made three changes to the starting XI in the form of Kane Ferdinand, Jordon Ragguette and Josh Umerah. Former Magpies Josh Coley started for the hosts in a mid-season battle for the playoffs. 

 

It was a tentative start to the afternoon has United sought to keep the hosts in their own half, with two set pieces being dealt with well by the Ebbsfleet defence. 

 

The Fleet had a penalty appeal denied as the action began to ramp up, with Josh Coley feeling his opposite number had handled the ball. The Magpies then attacked Matt Hall’s goal, with the former AFC Totton ‘keeper forced into two good saves; one from Dulson’s 15-yard first-touch effort, and another from a Jordon Ragguette free kick which Hall parried onto the bar. 

 

Jayden Mitchell-Lawson came to closest to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark, powering a strike from distance inches over the bar. A corner was given, but Hall had little work to do to make a comfortable catch. 

 

A last-minute free kick saw Hall called into action once more, while Ronny Nelson blocked Matt Robinson’s rebound before the teams headed into the dressing rooms for half-time. 

 

 

Bar a miscommunication between Ragguette and Jordi van Stappershoef resulting in a corner for the visitors there was little to report for the first 15 of the second 45. 

 

A clash of heads between Josh Umerah and Nelson allowed Mitchell-Lawson a chance to breakthrough and beat Hall, but he dragged his effort wide of the far post. 

 

Nelson was not too hampered by the injury, using his head to beat van Stappershoef in the 71st minute. A well-placed free kick found the defender at the back post, who headed home to take the lead. 

 

Dominic Samuel felt aggrieved that his shirt was ripped, but he didn’t let it put him off in a golden opportunity to make it two. A wasted United free kick allowed Ebbsfleet to recover possession. Latching on to a great pass from the midfield towards the left, Samuel calmly slotted home past the Magpies ‘keeper to double the advantage. 

 

The game was destined for a Ebbsfleet victory even before substitute Kwesi Appiah struck home a third for the hosts. A first-time effort as a result of a cross from the right flank landed in the back of the net in the 95th minute, ensuring the Magpies would head home empty handed. 

 

 

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Seaman, Hessenthaler (Appiah, 90’), Passley, Edser (Manktelow, 82’), Nelson, Samuel (Cosgrave, 86’), Kennedy, Coley (Barnes, 63’), Chapman 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Ragguette, de Havilland, Mantle, Yearwood (Pritchard, 73’), Ferdinand (Barratt, 82’), Mitchell-Lawson, Robinson, Umerah, Dulson, Clerima 

 

Attendance: 1,089