Penalty shootout heroics from Maguire sees Under-21s edge Fleet

Penalty shootout heroics from Aaron Maguire saw our Under-21s claim another bonus point in our National League Cup group stage campaign as we ran out winners at Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.

Having been held to a 1-1 draw in normal time after Rio Kyerematen's 23rd-minute opener was cancelled out by the Fleet's Ben Chapman just before the break, we once again headed to a penalty shootout in the competition after our 10-goal thriller at Dagenham & Redbridge last time out.

And the shootout with Ebbsfleet was just as much the thriller with a total of 14 kicks taken in total. Just seven were dispatched in total with Maguire coming out the hero with three saves before Max McKnight fired home the winning kick to see us to a 4-3 win.

The majority of the game's action came in a entertaining first half where we were ultimately left frustrated as our notable control of proceedings was ultimately unrewarded as we went in level at the break.

The early exchanges between the sides had suggested it would be a close affair with both sides enjoying chances - Jaden Williams firing just wide for us before Dom Poleon looked to have given the hosts the lead, only for Maeson King to get back and produce a superb goal-line clearance after Maguire had been caught stranded.

Yet, while it had been close, our control of the game grew and by 23 minutes we had a deserved lead - Kyerematen firing home on the half volley in the area after his first effort had been well blocked. However, while we had a deserved lead, we were unable to build on it. We were creating chances, but they were half chances at best. Jahziah Linton had hit the underside of the bar with an in-swinging cross from the left before a solo run by Williams saw him do all the hard work but he couldn't apply the finish.

And from that wasted opportunity came the hosts leveller. Dom Poleon made a strong run down the left before prodding the ball to the near post, it was half cleared but it landed at the feet of Ben Chapman 12 yards out for him to he slam home.

A number of changes in the opening 15 minutes of the second half made it a very disjointed affair before we eventually saw a series of passes strung together - and that brought about a great opening for us as Williams produced a superb touch, turn and strike in the box but goalkeeper Dylan Berry saved well.

Chances after that though were few and far between before the game really heated up in the seven minutes of added time as a flurry of chances came about for both sides. Largely they fell to the home side with a late siege on our goal but Maguire produced a number of good saves to keep things level and take us to a penalty shootout.

And the goalkeeper's heroics continued into a wild penalty shootout to decide the bonus point on the night. A total of 14 penalty kicks were taken and just seven were converted, with Maguire producing not one, not two but three superb saves.

Denying Franklin Domi in the first kick of the night, he also saved the second penalty from Wes Fonguck before, coming up trumps in sudden death, saving Craig Tanner's excellently down to his right ahead of Max McKnight, who just about won the extra point as he squeezed his penalty in.

Penalty shootout

Ebbsfleet

Franklin ❌
Fonguck ❌
John ✅
Tanga ❌
Manketlow ✅
Chapman ✅
Tanner ❌

Spurs

Hall ✅
Williams ❌
Black ❌
Cassanova ✅
Akhamrich ❌
Kyerematen ✅
McKnight ✅

Match data

Goals: Ebbsfleet - Chapman 41; Spurs - Kyerematen 23

Yellow card: Ebbsfleet - Kellermann 19, Domi 34, Tanner 36, Fonguck 45+1, Chapman 56, Tanga 90+5; Spurs - Linton 47

Attendance: 865

Venue: Kuflink Stadium, Ebbsfleet

Weather: Clear skies, 13 degrees