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Sport

Ebbsfleet United 1 Charlton Athletic 2 match report

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 21:30, 15 March 2016

Dartford will play Charlton in this season's Kent Senior Cup final after the Addicks' development team won their semi-final at Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night.

An equally young Fleet side were given a real workout by their talented visitors in front of more than 600 at Stonebridge Road.

Charlton have now knocked Fleet out of the competition two seasons running.

Ollie Boulding makes ground for Ebbsfleet against Charlton Picture: Steve Crispe

Ebbsfleet's team bore 10 changes from the 1-1 draw at Bath in National League South three days earlier. Dean Pooley, the only survivor from that game, was one of just three senior players in the Fleet side alongside goalkeeper Jon Miles and Joe Howe - who took up an unfamiliar role in the centre of midfield.

There was also a start for Billy Holmes, who recently joined the club from Derby County.

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Charlton almost went ahead inside the first minute. A mix-up in the Fleet defence saw the ball drop for Cristian Ceballos, whose shot from a narrow angle was clawed out by Miles.

The visitors, who looked slick in possession, went close again when a fine pass from right to left sent Zak Ansah racing into the penalty area. His low shot was on target and Miles saved well with his legs.

Karlan Ahearne-Grant cut inside from the Charlton left and drilled a low shot straight at Miles before Joe Denny threw himself in front of a Josh Staunton strike inside the six-yard box.

Ansah was next to try his luck as the Addicks continued to dominate, although his long-range effort flew high over the bar.

Man-of-the-match Jon Miles made several good saves for Ebbsfleet Picture: Steve Crispe

Miles pulled off an excellent save to keep out El-Hadji Ba's low shot from the edge of the box and Ba lashed a second effort wide after Ebbsfleet had failed to clear their lines.

Charlton were awarded a free-kick on the right-hand corner of the box and Tareiq Holmes-Dennis tried to whip it inside the near post but Miles was alert and saved again.

However, there was nothing the keeper could do about Charlton's opener 10 minutes before half-time. Ceballos picked up the ball 30 yards out and lashed a magnificent shot into the far corner via the underside of the bar.

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A second goal followed within a minute. George Lapslie exchanged passes with Ansah and was left with a simple finish from close-range.

Charlton finished the half on top, former Gillingham loanee Harry Lennon driving a shot across the face of goal and wide as Miles dived to make doubly sure.

The second period continued in a similar vein, with Charlton on the front foot and Ceballos calling Miles into action after being played in.

Ebbsfleet striker Jeff N'Guede finds himself outnumbered Picture: Steve Crispe

The impressive Miles stood up at his near post to beat out a powerful shot from Holmes-Dennis.

Fleet registered their first effort on goal just after the hour when Jeff N'Guede took aim from 20 yards and warmed the palms of Charlton keeper Dimitar Mitov.

At the other end, Ahearne-Grant hit the woodwork twice in three minutes. He rattled the outside of the post from a narrow angle and then drove a second shot firmly against the bar after Charlton had unpicked the Fleet defence.

The tie was petering out until the second minute of stoppage-time. Karn Miller-Neave's corner wasn't cleared and Howe rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Fleet won a free-kick in the dying seconds and everyone piled into the box, including Miles, but the set-piece came to nothing and the final whistle blew before Charlton could break.

Ebbsfleet: Miles, Boulding, Miller-Neave, Pooley, Denny, Atkinson, Holmes, Howe, N'Guede, Atomonyogo (Stewart 57mins), Johnson. Subs not used: Della Valle, Nouse, Tagg, Dabove.

Charlton: Mitov, Staunton, Holmes-Dennis, Kelly, Lennon (Konsa 65mins), Sarr, Lapslie (Millar 76mins), Ba, Ansah, Ceballos, Ahearne-Grant. Subs not used: Beeney, Kennedy, Moore.

Attendance: 630.

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