Maidstone United 0-2 Ebbsfleet United

Saturday 23 March 2019 // National League //Attendance: 3002 (622 Ebbsfleet United supporters) // Report by Ruth Tunnell

It was another defeat for Maidstone United at the Gallagher Stadium as goals from Gozie Ugwu and Michael Cheek sealed a comfortable win for the Ebbsfleet as they kept their play-off hopes alive.

There wasn’t a huge amount to note in the first half. Early on a corner from Jack Powell came out to Josh Taylor who ran onto the ball and drilled a shot goalwards but Nathan Ashmore made a decent parry.

Then on 20 minutes the Fleet went in front with a swift counter attack. Chris Bush started the move and found Michael Cheek who then sent the ball out wide to Corey Whitely. The Maidstone defence was opened up as Whitely sent the ball into the corridor of uncertainty and Gozie Ugwu finished from close range.

Ebbsfleet then had Ashmore to thank once again to make sure they went into the break in front. A short corner exchange between Powell and Blair Turgott ended with Turgott looking to find the net with a driven effort only for Ashmore to divert the ball over the bar. And from the resultant corner Aron Davies’ header was on target but Lawrie Wilson made the block.

The second half continued in a similar vein with Ebbsfleet looking comfortable with their lead and both sides occasionally asking questions of each other’s defence. Not long after the restart, Simon Walton headed a cross from Chris Bush just over his own bar and then for Maidstone, Justin Amaluzor’s shot through a crowd struck Ashmore’s chest and rebounded to safety.

With 20 minutes to go, Maidstone brought on Jake Embery. The young striker got in down the right sent the ball back into the box and Ashmore was forced to push the ball behind for a corner.

But with the game in stoppage time, Ebbsfleet wrapped up the three points. A long throw from Bush on the left bounced inside the Maidstone six yard box and Cheek was on hand to nod the ball into the net.

Maidstone United: –

Ebbsfleet United: Gozie Ugwu 20, Michael Cheek 90

Maidstone United: 1. Dion-Curtis Henry, 27. Shaun Donnellan, 5. Will De Havilland, 6. Aron Davies, 16. Dan Wishart, 24. Josh Taylor (15. Jake Embery 70), 20. Simon Walton, 11. Blair Turgott, 8. Jack Powell, 14. Justin Amaluzor (22. Michael Phillips 79), 18. Jake Cassidy. Subs not used: 25. Rob Swaine, 17. Leo Donnellan 12. Josh Strizovic.  

Ebbsfleet United: 1. Nathan Ashmore, 23. Lawrie Wilson, 2. Jack King, 3. Sam Magri, 19. Chris Bush, 18. Corey Whitely (22. Bagasan Graham 90), 4. Dean Rance, 16. Jack Payne, 11. Myles Weston, 12. Michael Cheek, 15. Gozie Ugwu (9. Danny Kedwell 86). Subs not used: 13. Jonathan Miles, 14. Freddy Moncur, 21. Arif Omar.