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It's over six and a half years since the Bulls last played at Ebbsfleet, or Gravesend and Northfleet as it was called in those days.
Here's a look back to March 7th 2006:
On the 31st of August 1946 the then fledgling Gravesend and Northfleet played their first game in the old Southern League. They represented an amalgamation Gravesend United and Northfleet United and their opponents on that day were none other than Hereford United. The Fleet ran out 3-0 victors on the day in front of over 5000 spectators who each paid one shilling and threepence (6p today) to watch the match. Last night a gate of just 618 including around 100 traveling Bulls fans who each paid £12 to stand on an uncovered terrace in wind and rain watched United rally from a goal down to win 2-1 and return home with three valuable points.
Second half goals from newcomer Robbie King and the ever-improving Andy Williams turned an apparent lost cause into a memorable victory.
Bulls boss Graham Turner again had to juggle his injury and suspension hit squad moving the versatile Rob Purdie to yet another unfamiliar role at left back and bringing in Colchester's nineteen-year-old academy player Robbie King for his debut in a Bulls shirt. Bulls lined up with Wayne Brown in goal and a back four of Green, Tammy, Beckwith and Purdie. The midfield comprised of Taylor, Stanley, Ferrell and King with Fleetwood and Williams up front.
Early in the game Green supplied Williams with an opportunity to break into the box but the young strikers low cross was cleared by McCarthey before a Ferrell corner was cleared to Stanley who laid the ball to RobPurdie to shoot just wide of the upright. A free kick for the hosts 35 yards from goal was taken by Johnson and played wide right to the overlapping Gooding who blazed high, wide and not so handsome. On the ten minute mark, a long ball found Andy Williams on the edge of the box and his neat flick fell to the advancing Craig Stanley who squeezed his effort a foot wide. Two minutes later, Rawle jinked passed Ryan Green and sprinted at the United goal but Brown was swiftly out to narrow angle and force the Fleet striker to shoot wide.
There then followed a 15 minute period of particularly scrappy play when Hereford looked to be struggling to come to terms with their task and seemed short on confidence although at no time did the effort fall short. Daryl Taylor had been on the receiving end of a couple late tackles before he found himself dispossessed near the halfway line by Johnson. The Walsall loanee challenged as the loose ball bounced up and caught Johnson at what appeared to be knee height while going for the ball. From the far side of the pitch, the challenge did not look bad but the referee produced a red card and Taylor had to leave the field. Fleet assumed control and took the lead on 32 minutes when Gooding, again advancing from his full back role delivered a pin-point far post cross for the unmarked Jimmy Jackson to head in off the post. Six minutes later Jackson, again unmarked, should have doubled the lead when presented with a golden opportunity but he blasted over the bar from 15 yards out.
As the half time whistle blew it was not easy to see how the ten shell-shocked men of Hereford could stage a come back.
As the second half progressed the Bulls slowly but surely clawed their way back into the game and only a desperate challenge by McCarthey after nine minutes of the half prevented Andy Williams bursting through on goal - a yellow card was produced as a result. Shortly after, Fleetwood laid the ball back to Stanley who threaded a delightful ball through to Williams for the youngster to flick into the path of Andy Ferrell who was steaming into the box. Ferrell and the well-built McCarthey met the ball at the same time but it was the Fleet defender who came off worse and he had to leave the field to be replaced with Fuller. Purdie was by now playing in a more forward role and he delivered a superb cross which Mkandawire headed just over despite being clattered by the advancing keeper. United continued to press with Fleetwood and Williams both looking dangerous. Williams was playing a central role while Fleetwood worked tirelessly off the ball to create space and was rewarded by a thumping tackle from behind which earned a booking for Jackson on 72 minutes. Then, two minutes later came the breakthrough. Ferrell floated a free kick into the box, which was headed clear, but the ball landed at the feet of Robbie King who took one touch before flashing the ball through a narrow gap and into the net.
Just 5 minutes later, United took the lead with another fine goal. Ryan Green found Williams 40 yards from goal and despite being surrounded by three defenders the local boy dragged the ball back and spun passed them before sprinting forward to unleash an unstoppable low shot from just inside the box which scorched into the net.
Late in the game, Fleet threw on an extra attacker in the shape of Sodje but it was the Bulls who finished in control although both Fleetwood and Williams looked exhausted by their efforts at the end.
For the second time this season Hereford had come from behind to win with ten men away from home and as before, when Ipoua was dismissed at Exeter, there may be cause to look at the video evidence surrounding a red card incident!
Gravesend: Holloway, Gooding, Smith R.,McCarthey, Watkins, Slatter, McKimm, Johnson, Jackson, Moore, Rawle. Subs: Kerr, Smith J., Fullar, Sodje, Saunders
Hereford: Brown, Green, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Purdie, Taylor, Stanley, King, Ferrell, Williams, Fleetwood. Subs: Mawson, James, Gwynne, Carey-Bertram, Holliday
Man of the Match: Dean Beckwith
Rule Bulltania
Ex-Landlord
Second half goals from newcomer Robbie King and the ever-improving Andy Williams turned an apparent lost cause into a memorable victory.
Bulls boss Graham Turner again had to juggle his injury and suspension hit squad moving the versatile Rob Purdie to yet another unfamiliar role at left back and bringing in Colchester's nineteen-year-old academy player Robbie King for his debut in a Bulls shirt. Bulls lined up with Wayne Brown in goal and a back four of Green, Tammy, Beckwith and Purdie. The midfield comprised of Taylor, Stanley, Ferrell and King with Fleetwood and Williams up front.
Early in the game Green supplied Williams with an opportunity to break into the box but the young strikers low cross was cleared by McCarthey before a Ferrell corner was cleared to Stanley who laid the ball to RobPurdie to shoot just wide of the upright. A free kick for the hosts 35 yards from goal was taken by Johnson and played wide right to the overlapping Gooding who blazed high, wide and not so handsome. On the ten minute mark, a long ball found Andy Williams on the edge of the box and his neat flick fell to the advancing Craig Stanley who squeezed his effort a foot wide. Two minutes later, Rawle jinked passed Ryan Green and sprinted at the United goal but Brown was swiftly out to narrow angle and force the Fleet striker to shoot wide.
There then followed a 15 minute period of particularly scrappy play when Hereford looked to be struggling to come to terms with their task and seemed short on confidence although at no time did the effort fall short. Daryl Taylor had been on the receiving end of a couple late tackles before he found himself dispossessed near the halfway line by Johnson. The Walsall loanee challenged as the loose ball bounced up and caught Johnson at what appeared to be knee height while going for the ball. From the far side of the pitch, the challenge did not look bad but the referee produced a red card and Taylor had to leave the field. Fleet assumed control and took the lead on 32 minutes when Gooding, again advancing from his full back role delivered a pin-point far post cross for the unmarked Jimmy Jackson to head in off the post. Six minutes later Jackson, again unmarked, should have doubled the lead when presented with a golden opportunity but he blasted over the bar from 15 yards out.
As the half time whistle blew it was not easy to see how the ten shell-shocked men of Hereford could stage a come back.
As the second half progressed the Bulls slowly but surely clawed their way back into the game and only a desperate challenge by McCarthey after nine minutes of the half prevented Andy Williams bursting through on goal - a yellow card was produced as a result. Shortly after, Fleetwood laid the ball back to Stanley who threaded a delightful ball through to Williams for the youngster to flick into the path of Andy Ferrell who was steaming into the box. Ferrell and the well-built McCarthey met the ball at the same time but it was the Fleet defender who came off worse and he had to leave the field to be replaced with Fuller. Purdie was by now playing in a more forward role and he delivered a superb cross which Mkandawire headed just over despite being clattered by the advancing keeper. United continued to press with Fleetwood and Williams both looking dangerous. Williams was playing a central role while Fleetwood worked tirelessly off the ball to create space and was rewarded by a thumping tackle from behind which earned a booking for Jackson on 72 minutes. Then, two minutes later came the breakthrough. Ferrell floated a free kick into the box, which was headed clear, but the ball landed at the feet of Robbie King who took one touch before flashing the ball through a narrow gap and into the net.
Just 5 minutes later, United took the lead with another fine goal. Ryan Green found Williams 40 yards from goal and despite being surrounded by three defenders the local boy dragged the ball back and spun passed them before sprinting forward to unleash an unstoppable low shot from just inside the box which scorched into the net.
Late in the game, Fleet threw on an extra attacker in the shape of Sodje but it was the Bulls who finished in control although both Fleetwood and Williams looked exhausted by their efforts at the end.
For the second time this season Hereford had come from behind to win with ten men away from home and as before, when Ipoua was dismissed at Exeter, there may be cause to look at the video evidence surrounding a red card incident!
Gravesend: Holloway, Gooding, Smith R.,McCarthey, Watkins, Slatter, McKimm, Johnson, Jackson, Moore, Rawle. Subs: Kerr, Smith J., Fullar, Sodje, Saunders
Hereford: Brown, Green, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Purdie, Taylor, Stanley, King, Ferrell, Williams, Fleetwood. Subs: Mawson, James, Gwynne, Carey-Bertram, Holliday
Man of the Match: Dean Beckwith
Rule Bulltania
Ex-Landlord
