Under-23s end up all square at Ebbsfleet

Our Under-23 side earned a well-deserved 2-2 draw with Ebbsfleet United in the first game of their pre-season preparations on Saturday afternoon.

Travelling to the National League side’s Kufflink Stadium, our youngsters went behind on 15 minutes as Ayo Obileye headed home the opener for the Fleet, but we levelled just after the break as confusion in the hosts’ defence saw Jack Grimes roll the ball into his own net. Parity on the scoreline lasted just over a minute, however, as a rocket of a strike from Aswad Thomas put the home side back in front, but we found an equaliser late on as Elliott Thorpe slotted in from close range.

It was a tough start as our National League opponents began on the front foot, pushing high up the pitch. Putting the pressure on in the opening stages, both Gozie Ugwu and Ayo Obileye saw their efforts flash just off target before Alex Lawless came inches away from opening the scoring as his low shot grazed the outside of the post.

It was unrelenting pressure from the home side and it eventually produced the opener. Coming on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, a looping cross was swung in from the left and into the centre of the box where Obileye was waiting in a crowd of players, ready to nod the ball into the roof of the net.

The goal had arrived just as we were being to show some signs of promise in the game. Tariq Hinds, in a less familiar central midfield role, had started to pull the strings while the pace of Dilan Markanday and Shilow Tracey on either flank had started to ask questions of the Ebbsfleet defence.

Our threats from out wide soon began to pay dividends. First, Tracey was unlucky to see an effort bounce off the side netting after he had made great progress to get into the box before Rodel Richards forced the first save of the day out of goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore with a strike from distance.

With four changes made at the break, we had our equaliser within just 90 seconds of the restart. A defensive mix-up from the home side saw Fleet defender Grimes roll the ball into his own net from 22 yards, bringing the scoreline level.

That lasted a little less than two minutes as our Kent-based opponents immediately put themselves back in front. After we had done well to clear a corner, the ball rolled out to the on-running Thomas who smashed high into the corner of the net from 25 yards.

Picking ourselves up, we pushed on to find the equaliser, taking more control of the ball and starting to play with some freedom. Clear-cut opportunities were few and far between as the Fleet remained firm at the back, but we were showing a threat on the break – if just missing that final key pass or the required finish.

Substitutes Kazaiah Sterling, Paris Maghoma and Armando Shashoua had all found themselves presented with half-chances but could not quite apply the much-needed end product. Yet, on 83 minutes, we did finally get that finish and it came through another of our substitutes. Having made our way to the byline, Thorpe was picked out on the edge of the six-yard box and the midfielder did the rest, sliding in to ensure the match ended all square on the banks of the River Thames.

Match data

Goals: Ebbsfleet – Obileye 15, Thomas 48; Spurs – Grimes (OG) 47, Thorpe 83.

Referee: Alan Dale.

Venue: Kufflink Stadium, Ebbsfleet.

Weather: Cloudy, 21 degrees.