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Enfield Town 0 Ebbsfleet United 2 FA Trophy first round match report: Alex Reid scores inside 53 seconds

Ebbsfleet eased into the second round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable win at Isthmian Premier Enfield Town on Saturday.

The Fleet banked £4,500 in prize money after first-half goals from Alex Reid and Gozie Ugwu put them into Monday’s draw.

Ebbsfleet striker Alex Reid - scored in the first minute at Enfield Town. Picture: Andy Jones
Ebbsfleet striker Alex Reid - scored in the first minute at Enfield Town. Picture: Andy Jones

Ebbsfleet made two changes from the 1-1 National League draw at Eastleigh last Saturday. Tomi Adeloye and Lawrie Wilson came into the side with Myles Weston on the bench and on-loan Newport defender Marvel Ekpiteta not included in the squad.

They got off to a perfect start with a goal inside 53 seconds. Tomi Adeloye crossed from the left-wing and Alex Reid took full advantage of an Enfield defender totally missing his kick to slide in the opener.

The lead was doubled just before the half-hour, Josh Payne’s free-kick controlled perfectly by Gozie Ugwu, before the Fleet striker turned and fired home his 10th goal of the season.

Enfield were handed a lifeline in the 33rd minute when Tyler Cordner needlessly pushed home skipper Mark Weatherstone inside the penalty area. But former Fleet striker Billy Bricknell hit his spot-kick low to keeper Jordan Holmes’ right and he was down smartly to make a good save.

Enfield showed promising signs through midfielder Junior Mubiayi but much-hyped striker Mo Faal left his scoring boots at home, twice firing waywardly over the bar.

Ebbsfleet were always in control and Payne nearly added a third just before the break but keeper Nathan McDonald was able to gather his long-range drive.

Fleet should have wrapped the game up six minutes after the break when Reid beat the offside trap. But the Fleet striker was thwarted by keeper McDonald who made a smart save as Reid tried to go round him.

Although the Fleet kept the ball quite well, clear-cut chances after the break were hard to come by for either team. Reid headed wide a Wilson cross on 67 minutes while Josh Umerah was denied by the keeper.

Enfield’s best chance came when Faal took advantage of Cordner’s error but Holmes stayed big to make the save, and then the Fleet keeper turned Bricknell’s follow-up from an acute angle behind for a corner.

Reid should have headed in a late third but he directed his effort over the bar from close range while Bricknell's chip in stoppage time clipped the top of the crossbar.

Enfield Town: McDonald, Hatton, Payne, Thomas, Weatherstone, Wilson, Mubiayi (Bawling 77mins), Youngs, Bricknell, Faal, Brown (Ibe 60mins). Subs not used: Forde, Livings, Esan, King, Gardiner.

Ebbsfleet: Holmes, King, Wilson, Ugwu (Umerah 60mins), Grimes, Sutherland, Egan, Cordner, Reid, Payne, Adeloye (Obileye 86mins). Subs not used: Blackman, Palmer, Weston, Achuba.

Attendance: 417.

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