Ebbsfleet 2-1 Chelmsford City

EBBSFLEET are only 90 minutes away from a return to the Conference after this afternoon's semi-final second leg victory over Chelmsford City.

Manager Liam Daish made only one change from the side which comprehensively won the first leg 4-1 in midweek, drafting in Giannoulis Fakinos in place of the suspended Ashley Carew.

Calum Willock had the first opportunity of the game on five minutes, seeing his overhead kick tipped over by Chelmsford keeper Carl Pentney at the expense of a corner.

Michael West swung in a dangerous cross moments later as Fleet enjoyed a spell of pressure.

Former Bromley player Ali Chaaban had the ball in the Fleet net but the whistle had already been blown for offside, while a Tom Phipp volley from the edge of the area at the other end just went over the bar.

Ebbsfleet had a great chance to extend their overall advantage on 11 minutes when West's pass found Ricky Shakes inside the area but he fired wildly over under pressure from Chelmsford defender Mark Haines.

Shakes went close again five minutes later as his low shot went just wide of the post after some impressive attacking play from the Fleet.

Pentney had to tip another Shakes attempt over the bar, although it wouldn't have counted as the Fleet ace was offside.

Clint Eason made a timely tackle to prevent Ricky Modeste creating an opening for himself midway through the half but Fleet were quickly on the attack again as Fakinos released Shakes, whose low drive beat Pentney but was cleared off the line by Rob Swaine.

The Fleet bench protested furiously after Sami El-Abd appeared to foul Shakes in the area, although referee Paul Rees was having none of it and ignored the claims.

But the inevitable breakthrough came on 28 minutes when Shakes' low delivery was tapped home by West from close range, a goal which made it 5-1 on aggregate.

Chelmsford tried to respond immediately to the blow and were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside of the area following a foul on Modeste.

Takumi Ake swung the free-kick in and his delivery had to be pushed behind by Daren Hawkes at the expense of a corner.

However, it was the home side who continued to look the most likely to score and they doubled their advantage 10 minutes before the break following a rash challenge by Ben Nunn on Phipp 25 yards from goal.

Nunn received a yellow card for his sins but there was more punishment to come as West stepped up to smash a stunning free-kick beyond the reach of Pentney.

Adam Tann was also cautioned Hawkes did well to get down low at his near post to tip behind Chaaban's 42nd minute free-kick, while Modeste's long range low drive drifted wide moments later.

Derek Duncan clearly fancied his chances when he took a shot at goal from 30 yards, although his confidence was clearly misplaced as the attempt sailed harmlessly over.

But who could blame him as his side had completely dominated the first half and they deservedly went in at the break with their place in next week's final all but guaranteed.

Daish made one change at the break with Duncan being replaced by Joe Howe.

Willock placed a shot just wide of the target eight minutes after the restart after connecting with Shakes' cross.

Shakes was only denied by a super save from Pentney seconds later, with the Fleet striker firing the rebound into the side-netting, although the offside flag had already been raised again.

Nunn saw a curling 20 yard shot go wide on the hour and City were able to pull one back three minutes later when Wayne Gray shook off the attentions of Paul Lorraine before firing a low show past Hawkes.

Unfortunately for Fleet, nobody was there to meet Howe's inviting low cross into the area on 65 minutes.

Scott Ginty entered the fray seven minutes later as Ram Marwa made way.

Hawkes came out of his goal to clear the danger as substitute Kurt Robinson tried to get on the end of Gray's pass.

Phipp came within inches of increasing Fleet's advantage as his 78th minute shot went just wide, while Ginty went even closer moments later with a close range shot which hit the post.

Erskine was the final Fleet sub to come off the bench with seven minutes left, with Willock the man to go off, and the fresh arrival was clattered into almost straight away by Swaine, whose name went into the book as a result.

It was a needless tackle on a day to forget for the Essex side, who were comprehensively beaten over the two legs.

As for Fleet, it would be a brave man to bet against them in next Sunday's final on this form.

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Ebbsfleet: Hawkes, Stone, Lorraine, Easton, Duncan (Howe 46), West, Fakinos, Marwa (Ginty 72), Phipp, Shakes, Willock (Erskine 83). Subs not used: Pooley, Williams. Att: 1,538.