Herne Bay were on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline as National League South title favourites Ebbsfleet United ran out victorious at the Kuflink Stadium.

Omari Sterling-James put the hosts ahead as early as the seventh minute, before Dominic Poleon and Rakish Bingham saw the Fleet ahead by three at the break.

Bay ‘keeper Lucas Hanley did superbly to save Poleon’s spot kick in the 78th minute, but he could do nothing about his effort two minutes later as the hosts stretched their lead to four.

Kymani Thomas got the goal the Bay deserved with seven minutes left on the clock, turning former Fleet midfielder Mike West’s pass beyond Mark Cousins in the home net.

But the hosts capped off an impressive performance with a fifth moments before the final whistle, with Bingham converting from the spot after Frankie Morgan’s foul.

It was always going to be a tough ask against last season’s NLS play-off finalists and after only seven minutes, that became evident. Sterling-James, a new addition from Kidderminster Harriers, finished well from a tight angle after a well-placed pass which cut its way through the Bay defence.

The visitors responded well to going behind, with Marcel Barrington putting his marker to the test with a powerful run into the penalty area before Poleon fired an inch wide of the bottom corner at the other end of the pitch moments later.

Just past the 20-minute mark and the hosts looked as though they were in on goal once again when Bingham tricked his way past Rory Smith, but the resulting shot was fired high and wide.

Herne Bay were forced into an early change, with Zak Ansah being replaced by Hassan Jalloh after 24 minutes, and just a few moments after that, they found themselves two goals down.
An initial shot into the Bay box was parried into the path of Poleon who, from a matter of yards out, made no mistake with an emphatic finish.

Soon after, Ebbsfleet scored their third goal of the game when Greg Cundle picked Bingham out with a perfectly weighted pass, before the forward’s shot trickled beyond the reach of Hanley and into the back of the net.

Further chances were created as the Bay looked to be holding on until the break, with both Bingham and Sterling-James trying their luck, but neither player could hit the target as both attempts drifted wide of the mark.

Ben Smith’s side came out reenergised for the second half and only five minutes in, substitute Rodney Adamon-Eruotor brilliantly dribbled the ball down the right-hand side, only to be dispossessed as he tried to lay the ball off for Barrington.

However, the hosts remained dangerous every time they pressed forward and but for a tremendous challenge from Bode Anidugbe, one of the many Fleet players lying in wait would have surely tested the reflexes of the Bay ‘keeper.

On the hour mark, James Folkes, who came on for Herne Bay at the break, looked to try and make an impact on the game, taking advantage of the same flank that Adamon-Eruotor had exploited moments earlier.

After a powerful run, Folkes whipped a brilliant ball right into the heart of the Fleet box, taking aim at Barrington, but the hosts recovered just in time, denying the striker an attempt on Cousins’ goal.

Ebbsfleet kept probing away at the Bay goal and approaching the final 15 minutes of the game, they looked as though they had found a way through, only for Dan Johnson to cut the ball out after it was squared to the edge of the six-yard box.

In the 77th minute, Dennis Kutrieb’s team were handed the chance to score a fourth when the referee pointed to the spot after a foul on Poleon. Stepping up to take the penalty himself, the forward could only watch as his powerful effort was brilliantly saved by Hanley.

However, there was nothing the ‘keeper could do in the 80th minute when Poleon dusted himself down after his penalty miss to cap off a flowing Ebbsfleet move, delicately chipping the ball over the Bay shot-stopper.

Against tough opposition, Ben Smith’s side never quit and with seven minutes left to play, Westy played a great ball through to Kymani Thomas who, despite being put under pressure from a marker, finished well, giving the Bay a deserved goal.

Despite this, the Fleet had the last laugh moments before the final whistle when they were awarded a penalty, following a foul committed by Frankie Morgan. It was Bingham’s turn to take this one and unlike Poleon before him, he found the target, sending Hanley the wrong way.

Final Score: Ebbsfleet United 5 Herne Bay 1

Herne Bay Starting XI: Lucas Hanley, Jack Parter (Frankie Morgan 68’), Jahmal Howlett-Mundle (Dan Carrington 45’), Dan Johnson, Troy Williams (James Folkes 45’), Bode Anidugbe (Hamilton Antonio 68’), Mike West ©, Kieron Campbell, Rory Smith (Rodney Adamon-Eruotor 45’), Zak Ansah (Hassan Jalloh 24’), Marcel Barrington (Kymani Thomas 74’)