Ebbsfleet United FC
Ibe (8, 42), Smith (21)

Team:

22 Chris Winterton
12 Andy Ballard
31 Darren Budd
21 Mo Harkin
7 Pat Harding
13 Jay Lovett (C)
23 Karl Osborne
6 Marc Pullan
25 Lyle Taylor
10 Allan Tait
18 Simon Wormull


Substitutes:

15 Nathan Crabb for Harding (79)
9 Andy Atkin for Tait (71)
3 Neil Jenkins
4 Matt Smart for Wormull (71)
5 Ben Austin

Team:

30 Robert French
2 Peter Hawkins
5 James Smith
7 Danny Slatter
11 Craig Stone (C)
12 Dean Pooley
15 Mark Ricketts
16 Ricky Shakes
17 George Purcell
20 Keze Ibe
23 Jamie Hand

Substitutes:

3 Sacha Opinel
8 Stacy Long for Hand (88)
9 Michael Gash for Ibe (88)
1 Lance Cronin
25 Gary Bones for Shakes (74)

Booked:
Osborne, Budd

Following a fine away win in the League at Northwich Victoria Boro entertained Ebbslfeet United at Priory Lane in the League Cup.

Andy Ballard featured in the starting line-up but he was unable to prevent the visitors taking an early lead when Kezie Ibe fired low past Chris Winterton on 8 minutes as 'The Sports' failed to clear their lines. Boro struggled to get a foot-hold in the tie and found themselves further behind when James Smith headed home from a flick on after 21 minutes.

The home side finally began to wake from their slumbers as Mo Harkin's free-kick from 25 yards dipped just over the bar and later, Mo's excellent turn-and-strike was deflected wide after 37 minutes. The visitors continued to dominate, however, and 3 minutes before half-time the Ibe grabbed his 2nd of the game for 3-0 'The Fleet'.

With 'The Managements' words ringing in their ears Boro improved dramatically in the 2nd 45. Lyle Taylor was unlucky on 3 occasions in the opening exchanges, but on 56 minutes Darren Budd bundled the ball home for a deserved goal.

Boro continued to press but the side were unable to break through, the visitors having won the game in the opening 1/2. "I was disappointed in the 1st 45 minutes" commented Garry Wilson, "but there was an improvement in the 2nd." Most in the ground would agree with those sentiments as the club exited the Setanta Shield.

Words - Lee Peskett