The match didn’t get off to the greatest start. Stavrinou’s cross was too close to our goalkeeper, Elvijs Putnins, but the stopper uncharacteristically fumbled. Michael West reacted first, diving in to poke the ball goalwards. Josh Gowling managed to get in the way, but he could only knock the ball over the line. Nobody expected us to be down 1-0 at the 17th-minute mark, but that’s the way it was.
Olembé and Woods combined three minutes later to test the Ebbsfleet keeper, as we threw players forward in search of an equaliser. The rally didn’t last, however, and my players struggled to control the midfield.
Things turned from bad to worse in the 38th minute when key midfielder Chris Birchall’s run was cut short by injury.
Shuker was dragged down in the box in the 50th minute. Alan Power stepped up confidently…and blasted the penalty high and wide. I couldn’t believe it. Three minutes later Koroma was tripped trying to put away Olembé’s cross. This time Power made no mistake. We were level at last, with 53 minutes on the clock.
Olembé’s wing play undid the Ebbsfleet defence again in the 63rd minute. Shuker lost his man and half-volleyed a shot into the bottom corner while moving away from goal. It was an excellent finish on the winger’s weak foot.
We had them on the back foot from here on out. Olembé outran his man in the 67th minute, crossing with pinpoint accuracy for Shuker to knock home his second of the match. The situation 22 minutes into the second half looked starkly different to that at the same point in the first period.
Barnes-Homer could and should have finished them off with five minutes on the clock, following a brilliant through ball from strike partner Omar Koroma. With the goal at his mercy and the Ebbsfleet keeper poorly positioned, he sent his shot wide.
Ebbsfleet were reduced to ten men in the 88th minute when defender Joe Howe received his second yellow card. After a performance as atrocious as Howe’s, Ebbsfleet weren’t losing much from Howe’s removal.
The match finished up 3-1 in our favour. Olembé destroyed them in the second half, and Shuker pulled the trigger.
Birchall will miss the rest of the season. He strained his knee ligaments after twisting painfully during the game, and is looking at two to three months on the sidelines. We’ll miss him, but I’ve got a strong squad for exactly this eventuality. Diagouraga, Power, Atkinson, and Christophe are all waiting in the wings for a chance to win a place in the starting eleven.
We’re now mathematically guaranteed a playoff spot.
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