Ebbsfleet United 3 Aldershot 1

EBBSFLEET put themselves within touching distance of a trip to Wembley in the FA Trophy final by beating Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot in a hugely entertaining semi-final at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Skipper Paul McCarthy ensured they take a two-goal cushion into next week's second leg at the Recreation Ground after the visitors had pulled one back through substitute Junior Mendes to give the travelling fans some hope.

Chris McPhee converted two penalties to leave the Fleet comfortably placed at half time with strikers Chukki Eribenne and John Akinde a constant threat with their pace and aggression.

~ See more pictures from Stonebridge Road >>>

Eribenne was brought down for the first spot-kick after only five minutes and the Aldershot defender looked lucky to escape with only a yellow card before McPhee stepped up to comfortably beat keeper Nikki Bull.

Stacy Long saw another effort tipped for a corner by Bull and Akinde went close twice before earning the second penalty when he was tumbled in the area after getting the wrong side of defender Anthony Charles. Once again referee Dean Whitestone pointed to the spot and McPhee produced a carbon copy of his first penalty.

Fleet went close twice early in the second half through Eribenne and Long but Aldershot, who made a triple substitution at the break, kept plugging away and Mendes finished from close range after Fleet had failed to defend a free kick.

However, they were celebrating again shortly afterwards when a nicely worked free kick move involving Luke Moore and Long ended with the latter crossing to the far post for Akinde to knock down and leave McCarthy to finish from close range for his first goal of the season.

Akinde and Long both went close before the end but Fleet were also indebted to goalkeeper Lance Cronin for making three important saves to keep the home side in front.