The pick of the bunch from Vardy, who brings his tally to 25 goals for Town this season, was a spectacular strike from inside the centre circle. Gareth Seddon, Peter Cavanagh and Andy Mangan also added their names to the scoresheet in an emphatic victory.
Manager Micky Mellon made two changes to his side from Saturday’s game. Shaun Beeley missed out through illness, meaning Cavanagh filled in at right back. Seddon and Jamie McGuire earned a starting place, while Richard Brodie dropped to the bench. Goalkeeper Lance Cronin went straight into the starting XI for Ebbsfleet after signing from Bristol Rovers on a month-long loan deal this week, a course of action taken after regular ‘keeper Preston Edwards was sent off in their 3-2 victory over Bath. Tom Phipp was replaced by Neil Barrett.
Mangan controlled the game for Town during the early stages, creating a number of chances for his team mates with some superb balls. A through ball laden with pinpoint accuracy was sent with intent to Cavanagh on the right, whose shot went wide, and again Mangan was the supplier as Magno Vieira almost opened the scoring with a tightly-angled shot hit on the inside of his boot.
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| Gareth Seddon opens the scoring for Fleetwood. (Image taken by Craig Skelton) |
Town have been noted for their positive response to going a goal down and this game was no different; they levelled the score only sixty seconds later. Vardy sent a curving pass into the box from the right which met Vieira on the near post. His effort was deflected into the path of Gareth Seddon, who promptly tapped home his seventh goal of the season.
The Cod Army had to wait just seven minutes to see their side snatch the lead through Cavanagh. Vardy was once again involved, finding no openings in the middle so opting to jinx through to the left-hand side and work his way upfield. Alan Goodall followed to receive possession and sent a powerful cross into the area, Cavanagh arriving late on the right to fire past Cronin.
Vardy deservedly scored his first just before the half hour mark, after Vieira’s shot from the edge of the box was parried into his path. It marked a spell of Fleetwood pressure, during which the injured Joe Howe made way for Ross Smith in Ebbsfleet’s first substitution of the evening.
Vieira was unlucky not to add to Fleetwood’s advantage on the 40th minute after a Vardy cross into the area, the Brazilian just beaten to the ball by Cronin. The home side were given a golden opportunity to do so only a minute later, however, after Yado Mambo brought down an excellent Vardy during an unstoppable surge forwards by Town’s leading scorer. Mangan duly stepped up to blast Town’s 11th penalty of the season into the bottom right-hand corner to score Town’s fourth and his 15th goal of the season.
United made both remaining substitutions at half time, bringing on Phipp and Ricky Shakes in place of captain Paul Lorraine and Nathaniel Pinney, as manager Liam Daish searched for a glimmer of an opportunity to get his side back in the game. Unfortunately for him, the chances of an Ebbsfleet comeback had already declined further only two minutes into the second half. Vardy picked up a brace in impressive fashion, bursting into the box unopposed once more and sending a curling strike past Cronin.
All three of Jamie Vardy's goals, as well as an interview with the striker.
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Conceding their fifth goal bizarrely prompted the away side to begin their longest spell of pressure, but a solid Town defence ensured there was no way through for Ebbsfleet, even after Fleetwood were able to lift their foot off the pedal somewhat. Goodall made a cool tackle on Shakes to intercept a pass towards the striker, while Gozie Ugwu fired over from the edge of the area. Vieira made way for Danny Rose after 56 minutes.
Vardy’s final contribution to the game ensured he left the field to a standing ovation after being substituted for Richard Brodie on the hour mark, who looked sharp during his 30-minute spell on the pitch. Looking up to see Cronin off his line, he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the back of the net from just inside Ebbsfleet’s half to make it 6-1. After playing a part in all of Town’s goals, the striker picked up a Man of the Match award as well as the match ball.
Lee Fowler made way for Jamie Milligan on the 67th minute after a solid performance, and after further opportunities from Enver-Marum and Shakes, Ebbsfleet finally got the goal they were looking for. Enver-Marum sent a soft shot past Davies after 85 minutes which ideally should have been dealt with by Town. Nevertheless, it was but a mere consolation, failing to remove the gloss from a fantastic attacking Fleetwood performance and a fine victory for the Cod Army.
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