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Ebbsfleet United 4 Farnborough 2 match report: Fourth win in a row for National League South leaders

Ebbsfleet made it four wins out of four at the top of National League South with four goals of their own on Saturday.

Goals from Dominic Poleon, Rakish Bingham, Greg Cundle and Darren McQueen ensured they came out on top against Farnborough at Stonebridge Road.

Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb. Picture: Keith Gillard
Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb. Picture: Keith Gillard

The home side, who made six changes from the side that won at Eastbourne in midweek, actually reverted to the same team that defeated Chippenham at Stonebridge Road on the first day of the season.

Ebbsfleet started brightly and could have easily broken the deadlock after nine minutes.

Rakish Bingham’s goalbound shot was blocked, Poleon’s follow-up was parried and Josh Wright was unable to turn in the loose ball.

For all their early possession, the Fleet found chances hard to come by against a Farnborough side, who kept a deep defensive base, keen not to leave any space behind their back five for the hosts to exploit.

It meant their attacks were sporadic at the other end, although Farnborough enjoyed their best spell midway through the half, Ricky Holmes shooting over before Fleet keeper Mark Cousins had to save from Michael Fernandes and Tony Lee in quick succession.

The Fleet went ahead just before half-time. A poor ball out of defence from Farnborough fell invitingly for Omari Sterling-James and he drove forward before playing in Poleon, whose right-foot finish was too good for keeper Jack Turner.

That advantage lasted just five minutes of the second half, however. Poleon’s square ball on halfway was intercepted by Jordan Norville-Williams, who drove forward from halfway and fired into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

But Farnborough were only on level terms for four minutes. Reggie Young tripped Cundle in the box, and referee Alan Dale could not have been closer to have awarded a spot-kick. Bingham stepped up and slotted home beyond Turner.

Ebbsfleet scored a third goal on 59 minutes when Cundle collected the ball on the edge of the area from O’Neill and took a touch before blasting an unstoppable right-foot finish beyond Turner.

Farnborough ensured there would be a nervy final 20 minutes when they grabbed a second goal. Poleon’s hurried clearance on the edge of his box hit a Farnborough player, and as the visitors kept the ball alive it fell for Kevin Lokko – the former Welling and Maidstone defender’s 20-yard left-foot finish was a striker would have been proud of.

It was far from comfortable, Lokko nearly scoring again and a short backpass creating anxiety.

Farnborough were reduced to 10 men on 89 minutes when substitute Omar Rowe lost his head and went in late from behind on Sido Jombati, the referee immediately reaching for his red card.

The hosts added a fourth goal in the third minute of stoppage time when McQueen curled home a left-foot finish to wrap up the points, although there was still time for Farnborough's Liam Ferdinand to hit the crossbar at the other end.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill, Solly, Martin (Jombati 66mins), Sterling-James (McQueen 87mins), N’Guessan, Wright (Edser 72mins), Tanner, Cundle, Bingham, Poleon. Subs not used: Chapman, Coulthirst.

Farnborough: Turner, Ball, Fearn, Lokko, Holmes (Rowe 62mins), Deering, Young, Norville-Williams, Lee (Ferdinand 62mins), Davis, Fernandes (Kasimu 80mins). Subs not used: Page, Olumuyiwa.

Referee: Alan Dale.

Attendance: 1,178.

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