A Crockenhill side hit with injury and illness problems faced top of the league Ebbsfleet following a good win against Ashford last week.

Crockenhill's injury hit squad meant that goalkeeper Liam Maguire started in the forward line with Akin Obamakin with most of the regular midfield having to drop into defence.

Ebbsfleet put pressure on early with long throw ins and deliveries into the box but it was Crockenhill who started to make their mark on the game with Owen Kabodi controlling the play from the centre of defence.

A driving run from Devran Mehmet and a perfectly flighted pass gave Obamakin the opportunity to cut inside his marker and unleash a superb strike into the top corner from outside of the box to open the scoring.

Crockenhill continued to threaten but Ebbsfleet managed to equalise when a poor defensive header from Soussou wasn't cleared and the ball was struck past the outstretched Mikie Hunter in goal.

Level at half time was a fair reflection of the game though Crockenhill felt that the lead was squandered too easily.

Minutes after the re-start, Ebbsfleet broke to the left and a long distance strike beat Hunter at the near post to put the home side ahead. Within ten minutes the lead was extended further as Ebbsfleet broke inside the left side of the box to make it 3-1.

Crockenhill re-shaped and pressed for a goal to get back in the game but a resilient Ebbsfleet gave little change and with Crockenhill players tiring and unable to make substitutions, the result was fair in the end.

This was always going to be a tough match with a depleted squad and the opening minutes of the second half determined the eventual result. The players worked hard but didn't have the usual attacking options needed to win the tie. The boys will look forward to the next fixture with the majority of the squad back to full strength.

Match report by Mike Delaney


Venue: Fleet Leisure, Nelson Road, Northfleet, DA11 7EE