It’s all plain sailing for the Fleet with a second win in four days…
Liam Daish’s fast-developing side made it 10 goals without reply in two games as the Fleet brushed aside Kent League Erith & Belvedere.
Daish brought back ex-Northampton striker Joe Benjamin for another look at the youngster after he’d featured for Dover last week, while Ashley Carew, Craig Stone, Nicolas Plumain and Tyrone Sealey all started and must surely now be in contention for contracts.
Featuring ex-Fleet faces Adrian Deane, Aiden Pursglove and Chris Kinnear, the home side put up some early opposition though when the red shirts got into their stride, they began to create chances. Benjamin was only held back by the whistle as he rattled the post from distance for the Fleet while at the other end Purseglove pounced on a Dean Pooley mistake but the defender managed to retrieve the situation.
Fleet took first blood on 24 minutes, however, as Ginty got on the end of a delightful Benjamin cross to head past Richard Stroud in the Erith goal. The irrepressible Sealey was getting involved, showing pace and skill to trouble the Deres’ back line and on 38 minutes he scored his second goal in successive games. Ginty put him through and he controlled the ball before shooting beneath Stroud.
With Ginty’s eye for goal seemingly sure in pre-season, it was no surprise that he grabbed his second and the Fleet’s third on the hour mark. Tom Phipp, only on the field six minutes, had a shot parried by Stroud but the loose ball fell to Ginty who merrily scooped it into the back of the net.
Preston Edwards later saved a penalty awarded for handball but it was mainly Fleet with the remaining chances, with Sealey and Benjamin particularly useful. West should have made it 4-0 and there was still time for a new face, ex-Watford midfielder Cole Penny who had been on trial at Hampton last week, on as a late substitute.
With two friendlies remaining, Daish’s first choice XI – contracts permitting – looks to be slotting into shape. And with the Fleet getting the results on the board too, August 14th cannot come quick enough for Fleet fans.
TEAM: Edwards, Plumain (Henry 54), Easton (Phipp 54), Pooley, Lorraine (Sherlock 67), Carew (Penny 73), Stone (Marwa 73), Duncan, Sealey, Benjamin, Ginty (West 63).
