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Ebbsfleet United striker Darren McQueen on his winning play-off goal against Hampton & Richmond Borough

Darren McQueen was the coolest man inside Stonebridge Road on Sunday.

Ebbsfleet's play-off semi-final against Hampton & Richmond was on a knife-edge at 3-2 in Fleet's favour when McQueen entered the fray with just over 20 minutes to go.

The home side survived a few scares but then came McQueen's big moment.

Darren McQueen (right) celebrates his goal with Anthony Cook Picture: Andy Payton
Darren McQueen (right) celebrates his goal with Anthony Cook Picture: Andy Payton

Latching onto a ball over the top, he got there ahead of Sam Howes and lifted it over the goalkeeper - his lob dropping under the bar and into the net to seal Ebbsfleet's place in the final.

McQueen said: "I took a quick look and saw where the keeper was. I thought ‘the only thing here, the way the ball’s bouncing, is I have to lift it over him’.

"That was the best finish to do. That’s why I went with the outside of my left instead of my right, because I trust my left a lot more than my right.

"It’s a very good feeling to come on and score the goal that made a big difference, settled us down. It was so late on in the game, they couldn’t really come back from it.

"Before I came on, the manager told me to stay as high as I could.

"I'm here to be an out-ball. When their back line’s so high, all you need to do is play the ball in behind and run onto it. That’s how I got my goal."

Ebbsfleet host Chelmsford in the play-off final on Saturday (3pm).

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