The Poppies took all three points tonight at Stonebridge Road with goals from James Dance on 29 minutes and Jean-Paul Marna after 63 minutes.Former player Moses Ashikodi had equalised from the penalty spot for the home team after 50 minutes.Debutant goalkeeper Nathan Abbey had saved a first penalty on 37 minutes taken by Peter Holmes.


Teams:

Ebbsfleet United (4-3-3):
1 Lance Cronin
2 Will Salmon (11 Ishmael Welsh 84)
5 Dean Pooley
7 Michael West
9 Moses Ashikodi (12 Scott Ginty 67)
15 Alex Stavrinou
16 Ricky Shakes
22 Leon Crookes
24 Darius Charles
26 Clint Easton (14 Kane Wills 90)
27 Peter Holmes (Captain)


Unused Substitutes:
4 Gavin Heeroo
23 Stefan Bailey

Yellow Cards: None

Kettering Town:
31 Nathan Abbey
2 Alton Thelwell
3 James Jennings
4 Darren Wrack
5 Ian Roper (Captain)
6 John Dempster
10 Jean-Paul Marna (20 Danny Thomas 64)
14 James Dance
15 Patrick Noubissie (8 Jordan Hadfield 64)
17 Andre Boucaud
22 Marcus Kelly



Unused Substitutes:
13 Niall Cooper
27 Enzo Carrillo


Yellow cards: Roper,25;Abbey,63.

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Ebbsfleet Manager Liam Daish was able to include new signing Moses Ashikodi in his line up and included Darius Charles in midfield. For Kettering, Lee Harper brought in Nathan Abbey for his debut in goal, James Jennings, Ian Roper, John Dempster and Jean-Paul Marna were back from injury and illness and new signing Jordan Hadfield was on the substitutes bench. New loanee from Peterborough, Kwesi Appiah was unavailable for this game.

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In front of a sparse crowd with few travelling fans, the home team had the first serious goal attempt after 10 minutes as Peter Holmes fired narrowly wide of the left upright. For Kettering Patrick Noubissie shot well over four minutes later. Holmes was again in the action on 20 minutes as Nathan Abbey pushed his shot over the bar.Strong man Darius Charles, in midfield for this game saw his left foot shot drift wide as the home team looked to benefit from their majority of possession.

A little against the run of play, Kettering took the lead after 29 minutes. James Dance on the right came inside across his marker and fired a sweet low left foot drive which beat Lance Cronin’s dive into the bottom far corner of the net. The Poppies gained in confidence from this and Andre Boucaud shot wide on 32 minutes. Then the lively Marcus Kelly got away on the left and his cross found Darren Wrack in space 15 yards out- but the former Walsall man miscued his shot badly.

Ebbsfleet were awarded a penalty on 36 minutes as John Dempster clipped Moses Ashikodi. The penalty, taken by Peter Holmes, was brilliantly saved by Nathan Abbey, diving full stretch to his right. He became only the third Poppies keeper to save a penalty on his debut.

On 39 minutes Jean-Paul Marna set up James Jennings, but the shot was wide.In the final minutes of the half, for Ebbsfleet, Holmes shot over and Ashikodi glanced Clint Easton’s free kick marginally wide of the left upright.


Half Time:

Ebbsfleet United 0 - 1 Kettering Town


The second half saw the Poppies start brightly. James Dance had been a constant threat and as he shaped to shoot on 47 minutes, Easton appeared to foul him from behind in the area- but only a corner was awarded.

There was a further penalty however after 50 minutes. Ashikodi poked the ball past Alton Thelwell towards the corner flag and went over in the box with referee Mr. Malone pointing straight to the spot. Ashikodi converted from 12 yards to level up the scores.

Kettering were very much in the game at this stage and Kelly’s corner on the right was headed wide at the far post by Ian Roper. Jean-Paul Marna had been given a central striking role for the game and was about to be substituted when he was gifted a goal after 63 minutes. Marna was trudging back on the edge of the home penalty area some 30 yards behind play when, inexplicably,Darius Charles decided to pass back to Cronin from just inside his own half. Marna collected the ball, danced pass Cronin and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Thereon in Kettering looked to close up the game and Danny Thomas came on for Marna with Jordan Hadfield replacing Patrick Noubissie. On 72 minutes Ricky Shakes shot wide from 18 yards. Then Andre Boucaud got in a good strike which Cronin saved.

Dean Pooley headed over Abbey’s bar from a corner. On 79 minutes substitute Scott Ginty had the ball in the net but was penalised by the Assistant for a clear handball when controlling the ball.

The final worthwhile effort saw Kettering’s Marcus Kelly have a god run but his shot was weak. After 5 minutes of added time the three points were secured by the Poppies to continue their excellent overall way league form.


Full Time

Ebbsfleet United 1 - 2 Kettering Town



Attendance: 587 (Poppies fans 30 )


Poppies Man of the Match: James Dance