Ebbsfleet United fired six goals for the second time this season – and for the first time away from home since Worthing in 2022 – as three goals in either half sank Farnborough.
It was another emphatic win as Josh Wright’s team bounced back from Saturday’s defeat to Truro City to end the night with a return to the top of the table.
The manager made two changes which saw Jake Hessenthaler and Charlie Seaman in the starting lineup, while Gene Kennedy and Will Tizzard dropped to the bench.
The Fleet enjoyed early possession in a fairly slow start but it was Farnborough who claimed the first chance of the evening when a free-kick forced Will Buse into action inside 10 minutes and the home side forced their way upfield in those opening minutes.
Seaman had the first chance of the evening for the Fleet when his volley proved difficult for goalkeeper Liam Hall to keep comfortably as he grasped the ball on a second attempt.
Seaman wouldn’t need to wait long to find the back of the net. Jake Vokins put a tidy delivery from a corner on the right and picked out the number 11 who arrived at the back post to nod the ball home in the 19th minute.
Josh Passley saw a useful delivery collected by Hall before Hessenthaler drove his effort from range just wide.
The Fleet’s advantage doubled on 39 minutes when a superb ball downfield from Buse picked out Finlay Barnes through the middle, leaving him only Hall to beat which he did comfortably, slotting the ball past the man between the sticks.
There was hardly time to celebrate that before Daniel Ogunleye was brought down on the edge of the box, earning a free kick which Seaman struck home with confidence, his fourth already of the campaign.
A couple of half chances at the end of the half from the Fleet couldn’t quite send them into the break with four on the scoresheet but it was a dominant opening 45 to cheer those well-travelled away supporters amongst a low home crowd of 343.
Farnborough made half-time substitutions and tried to dig in to avoid a repeat of the 5-0 defeat they’d suffered at home a few days earlier. They pushed on and Vokins had to be alert to clear one attack, while another low shot was sent across Buse’s goalmouth. The Fleet, however, were in no mood to relax and Toby Edser worked his way through into the box to fire off a shot early in the half, which was blocked by Hall.
A fourth goal arrived courtesy of the head of Camron Gbadebo for his third of the campaign on 53 minutes. Vokins once again dropped a perfect delivery from the corner, picking out Gbadebo who, with no man marking him to head the ball past Hall.on him, powered a header into the back of the net.
The flurry of goals continued as minutes later four became five. Gbadebo this time was the provider, sending a long ball to Barnes who looped it over Hall for his second of the evening.
Vokins tried to join in on the scoring act as he lined himself up well for a shot at the target but that curled just wide.
With five goals under their belts and eye on Saturday’s game, Wright made his own substitutions and one of those, Dominic Samuel, made a great run through the Farnborough defence but was flagged offside as he sent his shot at goal.
Samuel did add to his opener at Walton before the final whistle, though, with a close-range conversion after Harvey Walker’s attempt was blocked.
The Fleet continued to dominate in search of going one better this season with a seventh goal but nobody minded that one going begging at the final whistle.
EUFC: Buse, Passley, Vokins (Tizzard 69), Gbadebo, Hessenthaler (Kennedy 61), Vennings, Chapman, Edser (Box 61), Seaman (Walker 76), Barnes, Ogunleye (Samuel 61).
Subs not used: Manktelow, Hall.
FFC: Hall, Ehmer, Jackson, Burley (Warner 62), Dewsbury, Frost (Xavier-Jones 46), Aidoo, Nuur, Barratt (Bloomfield 46), Keeya (Lapslie 82), Parker (Golding 46).
Subs not used: Walder, Okoye.
Attendance: 343
Photos: © EUFC, Ed Miller