Ebbsfleet United’s Omari Sterling-James on first goal of National League season and reaching Gold Cup Finals with Saint Kitts & Nevis on international duty

The irony wasn’t lost on Ebbsfleet’s Omari Sterling-James after he scored his first goal of the season last weekend.

Sterling-James’ cross-shot went straight in against York as keeper and defenders hesitated in equal measure.

It was only Sterling-James’ third outing of the campaign. He took seven months and 36 games to get off the mark last season.

“It was a nice little cross-shot, no one touched it so it just went straight in,” he said.

“I was doing a lot of things right last year and not scoring so it was good that something like that went my way. I’ll take it any which way.

“I wouldn’t say I’m up on the list but at least I’m on it now!

“It’s a big relief to get off the mark but now I need to get my performances where they need to be.”

It’s been quite the summer for Sterling-James, who helped Saint Kitts & Nevis reach the Gold Cup Finals for the first time.

They lost to USA, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in the group stages without scoring -but that failed to take the gloss off the achievement.

“It literally was the whole summer - I think I had a week-and-a-half of off-season!” said Sterling-James.

“My summer was away with the team, playing games and training, and then that got extended by reaching the Finals.

“It was a great experience playing against some top teams and going to the Gold Cup as the country had never been.

“It was worth giving the summer up for! I loved being out there representing my country and playing with my team-mates.

“It’s a good atmosphere when we’re together. As we were out there for so long, it became even more like brothers and sisters together as you spend every minute of every day with someone from your group.

“No one had got to the Finals before so while the expectation was probably to