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Southend United 4 Ebbsfleet United 0 National League match report

Ebbsfleet conceded four goals for the third successive match under new boss Josh Wright on Boxing Day.

The Fleet were well beaten by a Southend side who had scored in just two of their previous seven National League games.

Aaron Cosgrave looks to find a way to goal against Southend on Boxing Day. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC
Aaron Cosgrave looks to find a way to goal against Southend on Boxing Day. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC

Ebbsfleet made four changes from the side beaten by Gateshead last Saturday with starts for Todd Kane, Callum Harriott, Toby Edser and Aaron Cosgrave.

Having conceded the opening goal in Josh Wright’s first two games in charge after 10 and 19 minutes, the Fleet were behind after just seven minutes at Roots Hall.

A cross from Gus Scott-Morriss was set back for Oli Coker to fire Southend ahead.

Former Dartford midfielder Noor Husin saw his shot deflected over and then Fleet keeper Mark Cousins produced a fine save to deny Charley Kendall.

Cousins was again to the fore, producing some excellent stops to thwart the home side but the game was largely scrappy at times in the first half.

Ebbsfleet, who lost Lewis Page to injury early on, were nearly in just before the half-hour when Harry Taylor’s header back had keeper Collin Andeng Ndi at full stretch to gather with Dominic Poleon ready to pounce.

Cousins then denied Aribim Pepple and Ebbsfleet looked like they were heading in at the break with just a single goal deficit.

But, in the second minute of stoppage time, Pepple had time and space in the box to turn and fire home into the top corner.

Ebbsfleet introduced young midfielder Maxx Manktelow at the break but they conceded a third goal just four minutes into the second half when Pepple added his second of the afternoon from close range.

Scott-Morriss nearly caught out Cousins but from the resulting corner, Scott-Morriss headed in Southend’s fourth goal on 56 minutes.

That prompted a double Fleet change, and a change of system as the game entered the final half-hour.

Jack Bridge was allowed to run and run before shooting narrowly over from 25 yards but Southend’s double burst at the start of the second half had taken any tempo out of the contest, the home side making a number of substitutions in the last 20 minutes.

Southend: Andeng Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Ralph, Bridge (Gubbins 80mins), Husin (Appiah-Forson 80mins), Taylor, Miley (Morton 86mins), Golding, Pepple (Bonne 71mins), Kendall (Walker 71mins), Coker. Subs not used: Jeacock, Wind.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill, Cordner, Dallison, Page (Souare 20mins), Kane (Tanga 59mins), Edser (Domi 71mins), Aoraha, Harriott, Cosgrave (Manktelow 46mins), Poleon (Kwame Thomas 59mins). Subs not used: Bingham, Tanner.

Referee: Alan Dale.

Attendance: 8,408 154 (away).

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