Goals from Danny Kedwell and Adam Cunnington kept Ebbsfleet United’s FA Trophy run going with a 2-0 win over Conference Premier side Braintree Town.
Since Day arrived at the PHB Stadium his side’s results have been inconsistent, with the Fleet’s last win coming in their last home game, also in the FA Trophy against Forest Green Rovers, he was looking to come back from a disappointing 2-2 draw at Gosport in the League, a match in which they were leading 2-0 in the first half.
Ebbsfleet’s task wouldn’t be easy however, their Essex opponents game into the game having lost just one game since the 28th of December, including a win in the previous round against Conference South side Gosport.
Jamie Day made four changes from the side which gave away the two goal lead at Gosport, most of these came in his three man defence with Brendon Kiernan, Dean Pooley, Anthony Acheampong and replacing Sam Shields, Kelvin Langmead, Tom Bonner whilst Dean race took the place of Matt Johnson in midfield.
On a day where snow fell across the majority of Kent, there was no sign of the white stuff as the game kicked off. Within four minutes the hosts had a claim for a penalty turned down after Stuart Lewis ran out of space in the penalty box before falling under pressure from two Braintree defenders.
With neither team able to gain any momentum, it took another fifteen minutes before either goalkeeper was called into action, soon after he bravely gathered a free kick at the feet of Remy Clerima, Preston Edwards was able to deny Chez Isaac’s long, powerful effort from a quickly taken free kick.
The hosts finally came alive on the half hour mark when a weaving run from Brendan Kiernan on the left wing, leaving one defender on his back, put a cross towards Danny Kedwell but the ex- Gillingham striker was unable to get his head on it as the ball was cleared away for a corner. Soon after it was Kedwell’s turn to cross from the left but his ball into the middle was too powerful for his teammates.
Finally, on 36 minutes the deadlock was broken, after some good build up in midfield Adan Cunnington found Matt Fish on the right wing whose low shot was punched away by Braintree’s Nick Hamann into the path of Danny Kedwell who placed the ball home to give Ebbsfleet a 1-0 lead.
Ebbsfleet’s momentum continued when another twisting run from Kiernan ended the winger’s shot being headed off the line by Alan Massey to ensure that his side were going into half time just one goal down.
With few chances between the two sides in the opening five minutes of the second half, it began very similarly to the first, four minutes into the half Chez Isaac struck a free kick from 25 yards out which Preston Edwards was able to hold on to.
This pressure continued but Ebbsfleet were able to hold firm against the barrage of attempted crosses from the Iron and, after further attacking, their spell of pressure ended with Jordan Cox firing a volley over from within the penalty box.
The continuous pressure from the visitors nearly gave then an equalizer when, after Brendan Kiernan only partially cleared the ball Mitch Brundle’s powerful effort was deflected inches wide of the post, a series of corners, this began a series of corners for Braintree which ended in a wonderful save from Preston Edwards to deny Simeon Akinola’s low header at the near post.
The hosts were finally given their first chance of the second half with just ten minutes remaining but after some good build up play, Brendan Kiernan’s shot was blocked in the six yard box to keep the game at 1-0 with time running out for Braintree.
Despite the Iron’s dominance throughout the second half, it was Ebbsfleet who scored the second goal of the game when Adam Cunnington used his strength to carry the ball fifteen yards with a defender on his back before slotting a shot in at the near post to double his side’s lead with his third goal in two matches.
This woke the hosts up again and just one minute after Cunnington’s goal a long kick from Preston Edwards fell to Danny Kedwell who was only able to hit a shot wide across goal.
Four added minutes were not enough for Braintree to make a comeback, meaning that Ebbsfleet will progress to the fourth round of the FA Trophy where they will travel to Conference North playoff chasers North Ferriby on Saturday.
Ebbsfleet United: Edwards, Fish, Kiernan, Pooley, Acheampong, Clark, Rance (Langmead), S Lewis, Kedwell, Cunnington, T Lewis (M Johnson)
Subs not used: Hall, Miller- Neave, C Johnson
Braintree Town: Hamann, Brundle, Habergham, Isaac, Paine, Massey, Davis (Maybanks), Sparkes (Marks), Akinola, Cox (Strutton), Clerima
Subs not used: Mulley, Pentney
Referee: Mr D Cook
Assistants: Mr G Parsons and Mr J Hollier