More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Dennis Kutrieb had mixed emotions on Tuesday after 10-man Ebbsfleet’s National League South win over goalkeeper-less St Albans City.
The Fleet were already 2-0 ahead through efforts from Haydn Hollis and Dominic Poleon before the away side lost goalkeeper Michael Johnson to injury - with no natural replacement on the bench - and another injury not long after saw another St Albans player hobble off.
Top scorer Poleon added a third, his 14th of the season, before half-time and it looked like Ebbsfleet could boost their goal difference after the restart as they tried to add to their tally against a makeshift goalkeeper.
Instead, however, St Albans marksman Shaun Jeffers scored the second-half’s only goal while midfielder Ben Chapman was controversially sent off for the home side.
On his team’s second-half display, the Ebbsfleet manager said: “[It made it] far too interesting if I’m honest.
“Maybe there was a little bit of complacency. Everyone knows we have eight games in four weeks and we need to go again on Saturday [at Hemel], and then Wednesday-Saturday.
“I know how players are. They start to think ‘Okay, let’s take it easy’. I try to explain to everyone we can't do it because they’re a good team, like they showed in the second half, but as I said, I know players. They don’t do it on purpose but, subconsciously, sometimes it happens.
“I can take it because I know we have another tough game on Saturday. But obviously for me, I’m frustrated. I’m not happy about it because we could do so much better. If we score a fourth one, then that’s game over.
“Everyone still felt comfortable, even after 3-1, you could see it. But if they score and make it 3-2, it’s different. I think it’s their only chance but regardless of if it was their only chance, if they score a second one, then we have a big game here where it’s not necessary.
"But at the end of the day, I take the three points all day long because they are a good team and they’re just starting with a new manager [David Noble].
“You can see they’re in a transition period where they start to pass the ball around.
“They never did that before so it takes a bit of time to get more and more used to it, and they will be a big threat when we go there for the second game.”
Kutrieb extended his best wishes to St Albans duo Johnson and defender Michael Clark, Johnson hurting his hand while Clark left the field at Stonebridge Road in front of a crowd of 1,145 with his shirt helping protect his shoulder.
Fleet’s manager said: “I felt sorry for them so all the best for their goalkeeper and all the best for their centre-back because they look not really comfortable with their injuries.
“It was, luckily enough for us, already 2-0 and we could score a third one shortly before half-time. It was kind of game over but you could see, if you have the ball, it’s much easier to run than off the ball.
“They needed to run so much, second half, off the ball.”
Chapman went down under a challenge in the 77th minute inside the penalty box. Kutrieb’s gut instinct was it was a spot-kick but, instead, referee Abigail Byrne brandished a second yellow card to leave the hosts seeing out the latter stages with 10 men.
Kutrieb said: “ I think, honestly, she had a very, very bad game, but it’s fine for me because we still won the game.
“If it’s a 0-0 game, it’s definitely a different story. You could see she was way off it but that happens. Sometimes, the players are not good, sometimes the referee’s are not good.
“Even the first booking is never, ever a booking. It’s a 50-50 challenge - it’s not a foul and it [is given as] a booking on top. And then a dive, I would say for a penalty. I’ll look back at the video.
“But we knew it from last season. I’m a little bit more mature now and have no time to waste for the referees.
“My honest opinion is she had a bad game but that’s how it is.”
Ebbsfleet are now four points clear of second-placed rivals Dartford, although Havant in third can cut the deficit back to three points if they beat Bath tonight.
