Oh dear, now 2-0 down.

Ebsfleet away one of the toughest games we’ll have all season. With Matt Jones sent off on half time left us with a mountain to climb. Not the start we wanted. At least the Bath City all stars also lost. That cheered me up a little. Hopefully we can bounce back next week. We can’t get any lower in the league than we are now. The only way is up. Cum on you Bluebirds. 😎

I am going to attempt to give an unbiased view for those who couldn't be in attendance. Opening day against the potential league champions was always going to be a tough ask and with the lads in high spirits on arrival, their was an expectation among the camp that they could give these lot a good go like they have on many occasions before. The opening ten minutes showed the game for what it was likely going to be. A lot of good movement in the forward line, Poleon finding a lot of space with his movement and Chippenham in a low block to try and contain the Fleet to shots from outside the 18 yard box. We held our shape well albeit two mistakes really giving Ebbsfleet their first and second meaningful chances. A great bit of defensive work by Spencer Hamilton to get back after Poleon had rounded Henry stopped a certain goal and then a fine save from Will's outstretched foot denied Bingham one on one. Then I genuinely felt Chippenham took over, Noah Coppin was played through and sliced a shot wide when one on one with the keeper and Alefe Santos' left footed shot was just tame enough for the keeper to gather. We looked solid in the middle with Russe breaking the game up so well and also turning provider showing his game is so much more than disruption. 

The goal came against the run of things as Ebbsfleet moved the ball well (something they did all day) and drawing out Hamilton who clattered the Cundle on the touchline. Advantage was played (something that the referee seemed scared to do when our last two chances were pulled back for a dead ball) and it was in every sense of the word an advantage as Tanner advanced down the touchline, towards the box and with Will Richards jockeying the man, showed just a little too much of the left side opening for Tanner to cut across a helpless Will Henry and open the scoring. 

The key moment of course came with the sending off. Two ways of looking at this. One, Jones tug on the arm of the Fleet striker definitely was noticeable enough for the referee to play advantage but not enough to really stop him in his stride, the tug was one of instinct and Joner actually appeared to pull back and I don't think the pull was enough to really hold up the man, however the covering Pablo Martinez making a great challenge inside the box saw the referee bring the play back for a free kick. Now the two ways come into it. Jones was penalised for being 'the last man' but the only way that could be the case is if his foul allowed Pablo to recover which was open for debate. The other is that if the referee had played advantage, he didn't see the challenge worthy of a straight red to stop the play immediately such is protocol in that situation and by allowing for an advantage, perhaps left himself open to critics when he then consulted with his linesman and showed Jones the red instead of the yellow. Nonetheless, I didn't argue much with the call at the time, I felt Jones pull however slight was the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity and sadly, we all know the punishment for that. 

One thing that Bluebirds fans can feel a little disheartened by is the referee didn't seem to want to give these sort of calls both ways as Noah was restrained, held, pushed and pulled all afternoon by Chris Solley in particular and a moment of contention in the first half being a flailing arm in the face of Noah off the ball after already fouling him being missed by the referee and inexplicably the linesman on the near side going unpunished. 

The second half was always going to be a stretch but I want to give kudos to the gaffer for being positive in his approach to try and claw his way back into the game. Parker was replaced by new boy Aaron Simpson and kept a back four and minus a winger, left a striker on the park in an attempt to try and stay in the game. We did a good job of riding out that numerical advantage and again forced a few half chances before the numbers game prevailed. Ebbsfleet's second came as the ball broke down their left side again, a cut in and shot saw a fine save from Henry sadly fall to the feet of a red shirted player and his strike hit a defender but with the sheer volume of numbers crowding the box, the rebound was tapped home at the far post and Chippenham's afternoon in terms of a result was effectively over. A third (albeit slightly flattering) goal came for the hosts when a fantastic ball over the top caught too many committed Bluebirds out and Darren McQueen raced onto it and under pressure from Santos on the recover, to his credit finished well into the far post to seal the win. 

A tough afternoon on the road for the boys but the long and short is this. We had a free hit today. This Ebbsfleet side is vastly improved from the one we played at the end of last season with a few players departing to make way for new faces that clearly have added a different dimension to the Fleet and honestly. it's hard to look past them as league champions even as early as this. Their frailties were on display also and whilst not unbeatable, we didn't take our early chances and a 37th minute sending off is rarely going to make the task of overturning a 1-0 deficit there any easier. I saw enough to be encouraged by the lads performance, grit and at times quality to have another good season in the National League South. Roll on Chelmsford on Saturday and a good chance to put it right in front of the home fans of which I hope there will be a good few to cheer the boys on after last seasons exploits, they have certainly earned it. 

Didn't go our way today but given the fact is was opening day, against that opponent and it has to be said, a rather inconsistent refereeing performance. We can take heart from the display and believe in the fact we have a side that can deliver. Jordan Young, Tom Mehew still to come back into the fold after not featuring today. I can see a bright season ahead. Well done everybody and particularly those who made the long trip once again to support the lads away from home. 

See you at the TS next week against the Clarets! 

Take care Rambler and look forward to a healthy return, Voice says it all in truth, Ebbsfleet certainly look the part but please don’t think they are poles apart from anything in the league and I’m not one for just accepting defeat and not being disgraced comments. We fought for years to get promoted and we will have our say over the coming months. Talking to Ebbsfleet fan who says Chelmsford have taken huge budget cuts and expects us to comfortably take the points.