After the Fleet XI appearance at Punjab United, this was the first-team squad’s first chance in front of supporters and they certainly started this pre-season match on the front foot with Charlie Seaman looking dangerous down the right flank. The former Maidstone man played a tidy ball into the path of Josh Coley, allowing him to dispatch a shot but an interception led to the Fleet’s first corner, which was comfortably dealt with.
Ben Chapman had sight of goal from distance before the 10-minute mark but Aveley keeper Joe Wright forced that one wide.
Seaman swung a free-kick into the area following a foul from around the 35-yard mark and Kwesi Appiah arrived at the near post but he couldn’t connect with the ball at close range.
Max Ehmer joined in on the action as he looked to tee up Appiah but that effort went too high.
Aveley created their first chance of the match towards the closing stages of the half but Gio Bellagambi pulled off a save to keep his clean sheet intact.
The second-half saw a changed Fleet side with only Ronny Nelson remaining on the field. The visitors’ first real chance of this period came on 67 minutes as Maxx Manktelow’s long ball marginally missed the head of Dominic Samuel who was arriving in front of goal.
The hosts looked more threatening in the second 45 minutes but there was nothing of any note to unnerve Mark Cousins between the sticks.
Lennon Peake’s darting run down the left wing allowed him to slot a ball into the path of Trialist A but he marginally mistimed his shot.
There were minimal chances from either side as the match ended as a goalless affair, despite the long periods of dominance from the visitors under a very hot sun. Academy youngster John Uma also got another 20 minutes after his 90 at Punjab in midweek.
The Fleet are back in action on Tuesday night as we return to the Kuflink Stadium to face a West Ham U21 side. Tickets for that match along with the other three home fixtures can be purchased here.
EUFC 1st half: Bellagambi, Seaman, Coker, Nelson, Ehmer, Fielding, Edser, Chapman, Barnes, Appiah, Coley.
EUFC 2nd half: Cousins, Passley, Manktelow, Olagunju, Nelson (Uma 70), Hessenthaler, Kennedy, Peake, Moncur, Trialist A, Samuel
