13th August 2019

In an evenly contested start on the road, Darren Sarll’s side worked their way into the lead on 27 minutes when Rhys Murphy showed his goal poacher’s instinct to turn home from close range. 

Losing the striker to injury soon after, Fleet caused the most problems for the remainder of the half but were unable to equalise before the break and were punished soon after the restart.

With 47 minutes on the clock, Remeao Hutton also opened his account in green and white with a finish of real quality before a hint of a late comeback from the hosts. 

Aswad Thomas reduced the arrears as the final 10 minutes loomed but Tom Whelan made it a night of first goals for the club as the Somerset outfit regained their two-goal advantage and ensured all three points would make the trip back to Somerset.

After building some momentum with back-to-back home fixtures, Sarll made just one change to his starting eleven for the trip to Kent. 

Back in the fold after suffering from a concussion on the opening day, Myles Hippolyte took the spot Hutton who dropped to the bench where he was joined by Carl Dickinson for the first time this season. 

Also amongst the substitutes were new signings Charlie Lee and Marcin Brzozowski who hopped on the coach on Tuesday morning with their signatures still drying after signing contracts.

Aiming to extend their unbeaten run as the sun went down over Northfleet harbour, it was a fittingly industrious start as both sides looked to implement a high tempo.

Taking it in turns to attack in numbers it was the visitors who had the game’s first meaningful attempts as Murphy scuffed a shot into the arms of Nathan Ashmore before strike partner Courtney Duffus curled a strike just wide in search of his third in as many games.

At the other end, Myles Weston drilled an effort into the advertising hoardings whilst Tom Bradbury had to get an important block to Josh Umerah’s attempt from inside the box.

Posing as Ebbsfleet’s biggest threat, the striker almost capitalised on an uncharacteristic mistake from Stuart Nelson midway through the half when his shot from long range slipped through the hands of the visiting stopper to thankfully nestle on the roof of the net.

Having survived that scare at one end, the green and whites soon took the lead at the other. 

Causing havoc in the box, Bradbury’s venomous shot from the angle looked destined for the bottom corner but the goal was made sure of thanks to the slightest of touches from Murphy to open his account for the club. 

However, going from elation to deflation in a matter of minutes the club’s number nine had to be withdrawn five minutes later when an injury saw Hutton take his place.

With Hippolyte moving upfront to accommodate the Birmingham loanee, the defender was straight into action as the hosts looked to level up the score.

Despite enjoying plenty of territory, Fleet had wayward finishing to blame for their frustration in the first-half and almost found themselves 2-0 down on 40 minutes. 

Spotting Ashmore off his line, Lawson D’Ath tried an audacious lob from virtually the halfway line that had the bulky home keeper scrambling to claim.

With three minutes of additional time at the end of the opening 45 minutes, Nelson was tested one final time in the half when he had to save John Goddard’s attempt with his legs.

Forced into a second change during the interval as Dickinson took the captain’s armband from Lee Collins, it was the first-half substitute who made it a dream start to the second half.

Collecting Whelan’s pass, the wing-back moved the ball onto his stronger right foot and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner to give Ashmore no chance and put the Glovers in a commanding position.

Facing a fourth consecutive defeat in the face, Garry Hill’s side attempted to rally after falling two goals behind but despite plenty of huff and puff, the hour-mark ticked by with Nelson untested but for a flurry of crosses to deal with. 

Former Glover Gozie Ugwu fired a shot across the face of goal from the angle in the closest he came to a goal against his former employers before the hosts finally made their pressure count. 

John Goddard’s free-kick delivery found the head of Thomas who did well to pick out the bottom corner as a Glovers defender was finally beaten to the ball. 

Not wishing to surrender two points for the second game in a row Sarll’s side responded in the best way possible. 

Instantly silencing the revitalised home crowd, Hippolyte’s delicate flick perfectly found the run of Whelan who coolly slid the ball past Ashmore on 81 minutes before racing to celebrate with the travelling faithful as the unbeaten run was extended to three.

Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore; Wilson (Shields 56′), King, Grimes, Thomas; Weston, Ball, Obileye, Goddard; Umerah (Thomas-Asante 70′), Ugwu.
Bookings: King 57′, Thomas 64′, Umerah 68′
Subs not used: Palmer, Egan, N’Gala.

Yeovil Town: Nelson; Skendi, Collins (Dickinson 46′), Bradbury; Alcock, Worthington, Whelan, Hippolyte; D’Ath (Lee 77′); Murphy (Hutton 31′), Duffus.
Bookings: Hippolyte 49′
Subs not used: Brzozowski, Seager.