Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

EBBSFLEET UNITED 2 – 0 DROYLSDEN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER – Saturday 13 October 2007

Report by Gary Owen

A much improved display from the Bloods' last outing at home to Farsley Celtic failed to bring any points back north from their long haul to Kent, but failure to convert first-half chances ultimatley cost them dear.

Ebbsfleet looked rather ordinary, and their top-half league position looked somewhat atrificial, as they failed to create any significant chances, but Droylsden failed to take theirs during the first period.

It took just 8 minutes for the game's first shot on target to be registered, but Jamie McGuire's effort from Jody Banim's deflected free-kick went straight at Lance Cronin.

On 13 minutes, the recalled Terry Fearns volleyed a left-footed effort from way out on the left flank, but Cronin back-peddled sufficiently to tip away at the expense of a corner.

Chris Denham then saw a shot blocked and Fearns headed well wide as Droylsden looked the more threatening side in the opening 20 minutes.

Dale Stephens then lost possession just outside his own box, which presented John Hastings with a clear run at goal, but Paul Phillips was out quickly to smother at his feet.

Just after the half-hour mark, Luke Moore caught Jamie Tandy napping, with the Bloods' player expecting the ball to go out of play for a throw-in, but the Ebbsfleet midfielder got to the by-line, before over running the ball in what could otherwise have been a very dangerous position for the Bloods.

The best chance of the half came on 37 minutes, when a good run by Denham resulted in the ball at Daly's feet, but he pulled his shot wide from 12 yards when under pressure from the Ebbsfleet defence.

A short corner routine allowed Warren Goodhind with a shot on goal for the Kent side, but it flew a yard over, and Phillips probably had it covered in any event, and then just before the break, McGuire's volley just cleared the apex of bar and post after Cronin had flapped at at Tandy corner.

A half-time ear-bashing from Liam Daish no doubt had the desired effect for Ebbsfleet, as the home side took the lead just six minutes after the re-start. Chris McPhee got the better of Colin Cryan on the right wing, and crossed low for Raphael Nade get ahead of his marker and convert at the near post.

Falling behind once again prompted some inevitable head-dropping from the Droylsden boys, and so boss Dave Pace undertook a triple substitution.

This enabled the Bloods to once again take some control of the football, but chances were not being created, and on 78 minutes it was game over as home substitute Chukki Eribenne held off Liam Murray with his back to goal, only to drop a shoulder, turn, and smash the ball just inside the upright giving Phillips no chance.

Phillips saved well from Moore after a good run by Eribenne, and Michael Bostwick screwed wide when presented with the ball following a tussle between Murray and Nade.

Five minutes of added time were added, but Morris was well off target with a free kick in the first of those, and so it was the usual Bloods' story of an inability to cash-in on chances, and being subject to the clinical finishing of the opposition.

Droylsden have only been given a real footballing lesson in a couple of games so far this season – Halifax, Stevenage, and perhaps Aldershot spring to mind - but this game was just like so many that they could have taken something from, but returned empty-handed.

Points need to be placed on the board as soon as possbible before the gap becomes too wide to be bridged, starting with the visit of fellow champions, Histon, on Saturday. After that, the Bloods have a welcome reprieve from league activity with games in the Manchester Premier Cup and FA Cup, before returning to Blue Square Premier duty with a trip to Woking.

TEAMS

EBBSFLEET UNITED: Cronin, Hawkins, Opinel, Barrett (De Bolla, 78), Goodhind, Long, McPhee, Bostwick, Moore (Coleman, 86), Nade, Hastings (Eribenne, 64).

Subs. not used: Smith, French (G/K).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Cryan, Tandy (Morris, 66), Halford, Murray, McGuire, Stephens, Banim, Daly (Salmon, 66), Fearns, Denham (Murphy, 66).

Subs. not used: Burke, Senior (G/K).

REFREE: Mr. Brendan Malone (Salisbury, Wiltshire)

ATTENDANCE: 788