Play-off Final
Ebbsfleet United (1) 2 Kedwell 20,109 (2 pens)
Maidstone United (0) 2 Taylor 47, Dumaka 120+1
After Extra Time (Maidstone United won 4-3 on penalties)
Attendance: 3,800
Entrance: £9 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 56/7,015
Match Report
Ebbsfleet the long-time leaders, at one stage 12 points ahead of the field, were left ruing their patchy form in the final third of the season which led to them being overhauled at the top by Sutton Unitd, leaving themselves open to the perils of play-off football.
Once the semi-finals had been won, a ticket for the final between these Kent neighbours became the hottest in town. Stonebridge Road's capacity was reduced to 3,800 due to the rebuilding work that has started. Maidstone United were allocated 750 tickets for the Swanscombe End of the ground. With attendances in excess of 2,000 on a regular basis this was clearly not enough for the county town club. But, in fairness, the total was 150 more than League regulations entitled them and three times the number they had allocated Ebbsfleet for the regular season fixture at the Gallagher.
After the Ebbsfleet season ticket holders had been satisfied, the general sale was handled in a novel, some would say bizarre way.
I allowed the initial rush to subside on Monday and joined a small queue on Tuesday morning. With other people's requests I was looking for six tickets but I soon realised with the chatter in the line that this was going to be a non-starter. When the lady in front of me, buying a ticket for her husband and living a mere five miles away in Meopham, was turned away, I began to fear my journey was going to be wasted. And so it was. I told the truth and paid the price. Was I an Ebbsfleet fan? Well, not really, but I do come on occasions. Do you have a Gravesend postcode? Err, no. He didn't exactly tell me to clear off, but I was on my way empty-handed.
On Thursday afternoon, when it was reported there were still 200 tickets for sale, I thought I give it another go on my way to work. This time I was better prepared. A Gravesend postcode courtesy of a work colleague and a ready answer for the question. Am I an Ebbsfleet fan? Of course. Do you come often? I come when I can. Name a game you been to? Bishops Stortford, won 2-1. Fine you can have a ticket. Postcode, good, you can have two. Truth is I got the question wrong! Do I feel guilty about my deception? Well no. There were still 80 tickets remaining on Friday morning and I feel that every Ebbsfleet fan that wanted one had one and at the end of the day, for reasons more of my dislike for Maidstone, I really wanted Ebbsfleet to win.
Ebbsfleet entered the game as the narrowest of favourites but really only because they held home advantage; all the end of season momentum was with Maidstone and this was reflected in the early period of the game when they took the game to their hosts who looked rabbits frozen in the headlights. Ebbsfleet goalkeeper, Nathan Ashmore, had some nervous moments as he flapped at several crosses but also made a point blank save to deny a Jay May header.
Very much against the run of the play, Ebbsfleet took the lead after 20 minutes. Manny Parry needlessly stuck out an arm when Stuart Lewis headed across the goal and the referee pointed to the spot. Danny Kedwell firmly struck his spot kick into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
Ebbsfleet grew in confidence and went into the break just about deserving their lead.
The visiting supporters didn't have to wait long into the second half before their side levelled the scoreline with a wonderful individual goal from Bobby-Joe Taylor. The youngster cut inside Tom Bonner, skipped another couple of challenges before placing his shot into the far corner.
Ebbsfleet responded well to the setback and Lee Worgan needed to be at his best to deny first, Jordan Parkes and then Matt Godden.
It was thrilling, end-to-end stuff with both sides having half chances to win the game before it moved into extra time.
Parry's hands were proving a potential match winner for Ebbsfleet when nine minutes into extra time he was once again penalised for hand ball and Kedwell converted with a blast straight down the middle.
Naturally, as time ebbed away, Maidstone threw everything they had left in the tank but looked to be coming up short as the home side contained them relatively comfortably. Ebbsfleet supporters were getting confident and started their "We are going up" chant, always a dangerous tempting of fate. And so it proved.
A hopeful ball slung into the penalty area failed to be cleared and when the ball dropped to Dumebi Dumaka he fired into the bottom corner to delight the Swanscombe End.
Nine months work came down to 10 spot kicks. Tom Bonner failed with Ebbsfleet's third, but this was levelled when Dumaka failed with his attempt. At 4-3, up stepped Kedwell for this third spot kick of the match and this time Worgan gambled, stood up and as the striker went for power down the centre once more, the Maidstone captain saved.
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