Ebbsfleet United manager Danny Searle praises two-goal Rakish Bingham and the attitude of substitute Dominic Samuel after 4-1 win at Dorking Wanderers
Published: 05:00, 25 February 2024
Updated: 09:03, 25 February 2024
Ebbsfleet boss Danny Searle has praised striker Rakish Bingham’s ability to turn a game in an instant.
The Fleet forward grabbed a brace in their impressive 4-1 National League win at 10-man Dorking Wanderers on Saturday.
Bingham’s opening goal saw him turn in a flash past former Fleet centre-back Haydn Hollis, who had a torrid first half trying to cope with his old team-mate, inside his own half before driving forward and arrowing in an unstoppable right-foot finish from 25 yards.
It’s now four goals in as many games for Bingham, who spent the first half of the campaign out injured.
“Raks was outstanding,” beamed Searle. “We talk about character all the time and Raks is a great personality around the place.
“He brings a maturity and a calmness but he’s also got that ability, pardon the pun because he literally did do it, to turn the game on a sixpence. He literally did that (for the first goal) and next thing you know we’re back in the game.
“Full credit to him, it’s not easy when you’ve been out for as long as he was to get back fit. He’s played and started most games now and quite a few 90 minutes in there.
“We know that between Dom Poleon, Dom Samuel and Raks, you’re going to get goals.
“As long as they’re working together to make sure we keep getting goals it doesn’t matter who’s on the pitch.”
Searle again admitted that former Gillingham and Blackburn forward Dominic Samuel is unfortunate not to be in his starting XI.
But with three wins and two draws in his first five games in charge, Searle is not making widespread changes to his side each week and that means Samuel has to bide his time.
Nonetheless, the Fleet manager has been impressed with Samuel’s attitude and was delighted to see him score a classy fourth goal at Dorking.
“He's unlucky at the minute,” admitted Searle. “It’s nothing to do with his ability, his attitude or his training. He’s ready to go as you can clearly see.
“The games he’s come on, he’s affected it every single time and I’m really pleased for him that he got his goal. He deserves it.
“His mentality around everybody, even though he knows he’s not going to be starting the game, to come on and finish it has been outstanding.
Report: Dorking Wanderers 1-4 Ebbsfleet
“He’s a professional and understands his football. Sometimes you’re in every week and even if you have a poor performance, you’ve earned enough credit to stay in.
“Other times you’re doing everything right but you’re not in it because for whatever reason, the team’s performing or someone’s performing in your position, but he’s been a professional.
“I think he’s enjoying his time at the minute, he’s enjoying the training, he’s smiling all the time and laughing and joking and I think that’s something we’ve brought to the club.”
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Matthew Panting