Ebbsfleet United 4 Southport 1

Match 59/12/1012 - Saturday, 16 March 2013 - Conference Premier

Ebbsfleet United (4) 4 Bellamy 4, Payne 11, Elder 14, Godden 29
Southport (0) 1 Almond 49
Att. 603

Entrance: £10 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 56/4,576

Match Report

Is it possible, nigh even probable, that we are going to make one giant leap from Winter to Summer and miss out Spring altogether? Another heavy belt of wet weather saw the postponement of my original choice of match, the Blue Square South relegation six-pointer between Tonbridge and Eastbourne and its alternative the Kent Senior Trophy Semi Final at Erith and Belvedere where Tunbridge Wells were both the visitors and the hosts as the game was switched to Park View Road due to the state of the pitch at Culverden.

Ebbsfleet's game against Southport was still showing as Match On, so it was off to Stonebridge Road to see the relegation-threatened Fleet blissfully unaware of a pitch inspection at 14.00 hours and a further one that was done just ten minutes before the due start. That said, the pitch looked and played perfectly adequately.

A midweek defeat at Alfreton had left Ebbsfleet entrenched in the bottom four and the visit of middle-of-the-table, going nowhere Southport was seen as a must win fixture in their quest for safety. I cannot envisage that there were many of the home support that expected nothing more than a dour struggle and those same people would have been pinching themselves in disbelief as they watched their favourites storm into a four goal lead inside the first half hour.

After just four minutes, a briliant turn from Stefan Payne gave him space to set up Liam Bellamy for a drive from the edge of the box to open the scoring and on 11 minutes a surging run and cross from the impressive Joe Howe was met with a glancing header into the far corner of the goal from Payne. The ex-Gillingham striker was a bit of a revelation. Since his departure from Priestfield, he has failed to settle at Aldershot, Sutton and Macclesfield, but his performance against Southport suggested that he has found a level and a club that he is comfortable with and his confidence that must have taken a mighty knock over the last 18 months has returned.

After 14 minutes a free kick from Ashley Carew, another ex-Gill, was touched home by Nathan Elder with the Southport defence in total disarray. Before the half-hour was complete, another Carew cross was headed on by Elder and Matt Godden was allowed to bundle the ball home from close range. At Conference level, the defending had been little short of shocking and must have been excruciatingly painful for the 40-odd supporters that had made the long journey down from the North-West coast.

One of those supporters had decided not to leave himself open to the elements and stood among the home support with the comfort of a roof. He had arrived well-prepared, thermos flask and sandwiches to hand. As the visitors attempted to make something of a recovery from their impossible situation a chance opened up that was lofted high over the bar, a Fleet follower made the not overly witty exclamation that Southport really were poo, to which the visitor merely took the top off his flask, unwrapped a biscuit from its cling film and silently nodded his agreement.

Southport's manager, Liam Watson, clearly could not trust himself with his players during the half-time break and within five minutes they were back out on the pitch disconsently kicking balls among themselves. If there was anything said, it had the desired effect as they set about the task of at least restoring a bit of personal pride. Sean Clancy struck a post almost from the outset of the second half before after three minutes, Chris Almond shot home from 20 yards to the almost ironic cheers of their fans positioned behind the goal.

For a while, Ebbsfleet looked slightly rattled before regaining the upper hand but a 30 yard shot that came back to goalkeeper Preston Edwards off the underside of the bar from Shaun Whalley served as a timely reminder.

Ebbsfleet can take a great deal of heart from this performance although there is still some way to go to climb out of those relegation places, but it is highly unlikely they are going to face such a charitable defence again anytime in the next six weeks.