Canterbury City 0 - 1 Ebbsfleet United - Match Report
A fairly straightforward victory for City today as they bagged their first win and goals in their pre-season schedule. With City three goals ahead at half time, the visitors, despite pulling a goal back on the hour, never looked likely to threaten any further.
The game started as a bit of a sparring match with both sides swapping attacks, possession and offsides. City’s debutant forward Kosta Koychev fired wide from thirty-five yards following a mis-kicked clearance from the Phoenix keeper and Renford Tenyue rolled the ball just past the post after having been put through by Macauley Murray. Phoenix weren’t showing much going forward and their efforts were limited and of little worry to City keeper Connor Quinn.
The home side took the lead on twenty-seven minutes when a long ball into the box was missed by Koychev, allowing Jack Tanner to rifle home with force for 1-0. City then enjoyed a dominant period. Jake Gess saw a shot deflected wide and Tenyue forced the keeper into a decent save with a snapshot.
Michael Smisson headed over from a Tanner cross and then had another effort go wide before he extended City’s lead on thirty-four. Taking a quick free-kick, City almost walked the ball through the Phoenix defence, Smisson playing a one-two with Gess before having a shot beaten out by the keeper but reacting quickest to slot the rebound home for 2-0.
City had further chances for a third, as Smisson headed straight at the keeper who then blocked out a shot from Murray. Quinn snaffled a rare effort from the visitors, before in first half stoppage time City scored a decisive third. A long cross from the right was headed back across his own goal by a defender under pressure from Smisson, and it fell to Gess who had time to pick his spot for 3-0.
The second half, with all the changes at the break, was slow to get going. Koychev flashed a shot wide for City and Phoenix volleyed well over and had another off target, neither of which troubled replacement keeper Giga Zulmalusheili. The visitors did have some joy on sixty minutes however, breaking through the middle of the pitch at speed and firing past Giga to lessen the deficit to 3-1.
City enjoyed a couple of keep ball sessions as the game began to drift towards it conclusion and they could have added to their tally. The Phoenix keeper made a very good one handed save to deny Tenyue, Joe Kennett headed a corner off the bar and finally in stoppage time, Tenyue shot wide having found plenty of space in the box. Final score 3-1.
A comfortable win for City as they now head off to Hartsdown Park on Tuesday to play Margate (kick-off 7.30).
City Squad: Connor Quinn, Sam Baker, Chris Elliott, Richard Gamble, Joe Kennett, Jake Gess, Macauley Murray, Renford Tenyue, Kosta Koychev, Michael Smisson, Jack Tanner, Giga Zulmalusheili, Ben Smith, Joe Plant, Sean Armstrong, Connor Simpson, Grant Bagley.