Ebbsfleet United are through to the FA Cup first round proper with what turned out to be an emphatic victory over Worthing United.
In what has been a week to forget with all the revelations about money, the money men will be thrilled with the £25000 they will get for this victory.
Worthing who had played three games to get to this stage and were second in the Bostik Premier League had a right go for the first thirty minutes you would have thought they were the National League side as they played on Ebbsfleet’s lack of confidence at home.
In the 7th minute Oliver Pearce 25 yards out tried his luck but it went just wide. A minute later Danny Kedwell on the left cut across the edge of the area before seeing his shot go wide. In the 16th minute Worthing nearly took the lead when David Ajiboye was put through, from 15 yards he was just about to shoot when Dave Winfield chucked his body at it and deflected the ball out for a corner.
Worthing were passing the ball well and causing Ebbsfleet a lot of problems without actually getting shots on goal. The game turned in the 31st minute when against the run of play Ebbsfleet took the lead, Corey Whitely on the right wing saw his low cross find Luke Coulson who from 8 yards side footed it in.
Then in the 41st minute they doubled their lead when Whitely on the right wing saw his low cross to the near post flicked in buy Coulson. It nearly became three when Sam Magri passed out wide to Whitely who cut inside, but his curling effort went just over the bar.
Worthing had a glorious chance to get a goal back in the second minute off added on time when Pearce on the right was put clear in the area but his shot beat Nathan Ashmore but went across the goal for a goal kick.
The second half started with Ebbsfleet on the front foot as in the 51st minute a Jack Paine corner into the area saw Winfield’s powerful herder tipped over the bar by Kleton Petreou, but from the next corner taken by Payne Ebbsfleet wrapped the game up, it went to the back post where Winfield this time saw his header fly into the net.
Three minutes later Coulson nearly had his hat trick when his shot from 20 yards was pushed over the bar by Petreou. Four minutes later a Payne free kick to the back post found Andy Drury but on his own his half volley was saved by Petreou. Ebbsfleet were dominating the game but plucky Worthing tried their best to get a consolation goal.
In the 64th minute they could have when Pearce in the area went round Ashmore but then went and sliced his shot wide. In the 80th minute Darren Budd saw his free kick from 25 yards tipped over the bar by Ashmore, this woke Ebbsfleet up as in the 83rd minute Myles Weston 20 yards out saw his snap shot go just past the post.
Two minutes later it was four when Weston on the right saw his low cross put into his own net unfortunately by Will Miles. In the 87th minute Ajiboye went on a mazy run into the area and was fouled by Winfield for a penalty, he got up and took it but Ashmore guessed the right way palming it away.
Then in the 89th minute Ajiboye 20 yards out saw his shot pushed around the post by Ashmore for a corner. There were 4 minutes of added on time, Ebbsfleet professionally played the time out, and now wait to see who they get, the draw is on BBC2 at 7:00pm on Monday with Ebbsfleet’s being ball 76.
Ebbsfleet United:
- N.Ashmore 3. S.Magri 4. D.Rance (57) 5. D.Winfield 6. K.Clark 9. D.Kedwell 10. A.Drury 15. L.Coulson (73) 16. J.Payne 18. C.Whitely (76) 19. C.Bush
Subs Used: 11. M.Weston (57) 17. S.Shields (73) 14. D.Mcqueen (76)
Subs Not Used: 2. J.King 8. E.Adams 13. J.Miles 23. L.Wilson
Bookings: None
Worthing:
- K.Petreou 2. J.Colbran 3. J.Crane 4. D.Budd (80) 5. W.Miles 6. A.Racine 7. D.Ajiboye 8. D.Barker 9. C.Kiely (56) 10. O.Pearce 11. A.Parsons (78)
Subs Used: 16. R.Aguir (56) 18. H.Skerry (78) 15. J.Clarke (80)
Subs Not Used: 12. S.Rents 13. A.Relf 14. R.Ovenden 17. J.Rance
Bookings: None
Referee: Mr D.Rock
Assistants: Mr P.Evans & Mr D.Hutton
4th Official: Miss A.Marriott
Attendance: 1011