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Ebbsfleet United 2 Charlton Athletic 1 match report

Ebbsfleet beat Championship opposition on Tuesday night.

Goals from Ayo Obileye and trialist Tomi Adeloye saw off newly-promoted Charlton, who used their entire squad across the 90 minutes at Stonebridge Road.

It was a performance to encourage the Fleet fans, with only two more friendlies to come before the National League season starts on August 3.

Ayo Obileye (left) opened the scoring for Ebbsfleet Picture: Matthew Walker
Ayo Obileye (left) opened the scoring for Ebbsfleet Picture: Matthew Walker

New signings James Ball and John Goddard both started for the Fleet, with ex-Dagenham striker Adeloye leading the line.

Ebbsfleet were nice and compact in the first half against a very strong Charlton side, with the physicality of Ball and Obileye giving them real presence in midfield.

Garry Hill's side look like they'll be hard to beat first and foremost, with Alex Lawless screening a back four packed with experience and organised well.

Obileye chested a high ball down for Ball, whose left-footed shot flew just wide before a terrific whipped cross from Sean Shields forced Charlton to concede a corner.

Lyle Taylor should have made it 1-0 at the other end when he rounded Nathan Ashmore, who was a long way out of his goal, but Jamie Grimes got back well to make a last-ditch block.

A deep Lawrie Wilson cross, after good work by Shields, reached Goddard but the visitors got bodies in the way of his goalbound effort.

Albie Morgan beat Ashmore with a low strike from the edge of the box but the ball ricocheted off the base of the post.

Adeloye saw more of the ball in the latter stages of the first half, flicking a high ball on for Shields, who almost squeezed it home from a narrow angle.

Sloppy defending gifted Adeloye a shot in the box but his effort was charged down, with Taylor swirling a free-kick well wide at the other end.

Adeloye skimmed a header wide from another good Shields cross and when the striker was fouled in the box two minutes before half-time, Obileye sent Ben Amos the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Chuks Aneke cut the ball back for Taylor in stoppage-time but again there were red shirts in support of Ashmore and Taylor's low shot stayed out.

Taylor went close again at the start of the second half, shifting the ball onto his left foot and whipping a shot narrowly wide.

Goddard floated a free-kick high over the bar from a good position but Fleet made it 2-0 with a goal of real quality just before the hour. Wilson linked with Shields down the right and he turned his man before delivering an inch-perfect cross which was touched home by the stretching Adeloye.

Adeloye then made way for Gozie Ugwu, who got his toe to a bouncing ball in the six-yard box but lifted it just over.

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer changed his entire XI soon after and Abraham Odoh saw a low shot deflect behind after turning smartly on the 18-yard line.

Callum Harriott curled a shot past the angle as the visitors, with plenty of running in their legs, spent most of the closing stages in the Ebbsfleet half.

They scored a late goal through Brendon Sarpong-Wiredu after moving the ball neatly from left to right but Fleet dug in for the win.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Wilson (Anderson 74mins), King, Grimes, Thomas (Weston 54mins), Shields, Obileye (Egan 56mins), Lawless, Ball (Dainkeh 65mins), Goddard, Adeloye (Ugwu 62mins).

Charlton: Amos, Dijksteel, Forster-Caskey, Taylor, Aneke, Pratley, Turrington, Morgan, Solly, Lapslie, Doughty. Subs: Phillips, Lockyer, Pearce, Harriott, Bonne, Harness, Sarr, Dempsey, Maloney, Yao, Quitirna, Odoh, Sarpong-Wiredu, Powell.

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