Ebbsfleet United 7 Worthing 2 match report: National League South leaders go 17 points clear

Ebbsfleet went goal crazy against Worthing for the second time this season on a chilly Tuesday night.

The Fleet moved another step closer to the National League South title, extending their lead over second-placed Dartford with just nine games left to play. Having won 6-0 at Worthing before Christmas, they scored seven past them this time..

After the weekend stalemate with Hemel Hempstead, there were four changes for the home side, with Shaq Coulthirst, Chris Solly, Ben Chapman and Franklin Domi coming into the Ebbsfleet line-up.

The hosts forced three corners in the first three minutes, but as they did during Saturday’s goalless draw with Hemel Hempstead, they were unable to beat the front man.

Worthing served notice in the fourth minute when Fleet keeper Mark Cousins had to be alert to push away Lewis White’s right-foot effort after he was allowed to advance into the penalty area.

The visitors went ahead on 11 minutes, Ollie Pearce saw Cousins push away his shot and Reece Myles-Meekums reacted quickest to tuck away the rebound from close range.

Ebbsfleet were gifted an equaliser on 21 minutes. Keeper Harrison Male tried to play out from the back and succeeded in playing the ball straight to Toby Edser, who fed Coulthirst to score from 12 yards.

Male was called up to the England C squad earlier in the week but that form wasn’t evident at Stonebridge Road. There were question marks over his work again when the Fleet went ahead on 27 minutes. The Fleet’s fifth corner of the night was only half-cleared and Rakish Bingham’s looping header found its way into the net from the far post.

Coulthirst nearly added a third just after the half-hour but Male stayed big to deny him a second goal of the night.

Worthing went close to an