The Fleet continued their great start to pre-season with a 5-1 victory at Cray Valley Paper Mills, treating fans to 11 goals now in two opening friendlies.
Steve McKimm’s Isthmian South East champions began on the front foot as they earned sight of goal from set pieces in the opening stages and there was plenty of the ball for the Fleet’s back line as they shut the supply lines to the Cray forwards.
But eight minutes into the match, despite the home side’s tidy football, the Fleet were in front. Tyler Cordner slotted a great pass into Craig Tanner’s path and he was too quick for the last green shirt, going through on goal to pick his spot past the goalkeeper (pictured).
A brave block from Louis John denied Cray’s response as a good shot came in from the edge of the area shortly after that and the match tempo settled. The Fleet knocked on the door for a second as Trialist D and Nathan Odokonyero tried to unlock the home defence once more but the Millers came close to an equaliser right before half-time. An attack through the left channel of midfield meant Tyler Cordner had to pull off a double goalline clearance with his foot first from Matthew Vigor and then via his head for the rebound that Andre Coker reached.
The men in red began the second period strongly with Trialist D grabbing the second goal two minutes in. Wes Fonguck’s good work with a tireless run from midfield ended with a shot parried by the keeper but it rose to a tempting height for the trialing Fleet striker to finish off with his head from close range.
The hour mark saw a change in personnel as Danny Searle made nine changes and despite the introduction of so many, Fleet clicked into gear quickly..
Ben Chapman sent in several dangerous crosses and Dominic Samuel grabbed his side’s third with a precise shot from the edge of the area that picked out the bottom corner on 70 minutes.
The hosts then hit back with a stunning strike from distance by Julian Anau, a curling effort from the outside of the boot bending away from Cousins and into the top corner.
Chapman was on the verge of an assist when he sent in a searching low cross to pick out Lewis Page at the far post but the Dagenham signing sent his effort narrowly wide.
Dominic Poleon was off the mark for pre-season next with 10 minutes to go when his quick feet parted the home defence and a fine shot was only ever going to finish in one place – beyond the goalkeeper.
The visitors weren’t finished there as Samuel grabbed his second brace in as many matches, latching on to Chapman’s cross from the right with another accurate effort to secure the fifth goal of the evening.
That sets Fleet up nicely for a return to the Kuflink Stadium this Saturday to take on West Ham’s development squad with tickets available here.
EUFC Squad: Trialist A, Cousins, O’Neill, Page, Wright, Cordner, John, Kellermann, Trialist B, Fonguck, Samuel, Trialist C, Poleon, Cundle, Edser, Phillips, Odokonyero, Chapman, Tanner, Trialist D
