Home   Gravesend   Sport   Article

Joy as Fleet clinch Wembley date

Aldershot 1 Ebbsfleet United 1 (Fleet win 4-2 on aggregate)

EBBSFLEET United have reached Wembley for the first time in their history after beating Aldershot Town over two legs in the FA Trophy semi-final.

Michael Bostwick's injury-time strike meant the game ended 1-1 and Fleet won the tie 4-2 on aggregate after Junior Mendes had given Aldershot the lead early in the second half.

Fleet took a two-goal lead into the second leg at the Recreation Ground on Saturday after beating the Shots 3-1 at Stonebridge Road last Saturday.

Aldershot started the game brightly and came close to opening the scoring on nine minutes when Kirk Hudson raced onto a flick from Mendes, before seeing his shot finish just wide of the post.

The best chance of the first half fell to Louie Soares on 25 minutes when he raced onto a through ball from Mendes, but he shot straight at the feet of Cronin when it looked easier to score.

Fleet had chances of their own with Stacy Long seeing his lob go just over on 23 minutes.

In the second half, Aldershot continued to push forward and were eventually rewarded when Mendes raced onto a pass from Ben Harding and fired a shot into the bottom left corner.

Aldershot launched attack after attack on Fleet's goal but the visitors defence put in an impressive performance to keep the home side at bay.

And in time added on Long's shot was saved by Bull with the rebound coming back out to Bostwick who fired the ball into the top right corner to send the Fleet fans into a frenzy.

Ebbsfleet will play Torquay in the Wembley final on May 10.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Hawkins, Opinel, McCarthy, Long, Eribenne (Nade 57mins), McPhee, Barrett, Moore (Ricketts 70mins), Akinde (Purcell 85mins), Bostwick.
Subs not used: Mott, MacDonald.
Attendance: 4, 344.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More