Martin Ling was delighted to see the U's record a comprehensive first win in five games and score four goals against Ebbsfleet United.

Courtney Pitt scored right at the end of a flat first half in which Ebbsfleet had packed the midfield and slowed play down, and his rare headed goal proved to be the catalyst for a sparkling second half and a 'man of the match' performance by the winger.

"It was a very even first half until the goal," admitted Ling. "That took the shackles off us and and it was good play from Chrissy Holroyd for Courtney with a header; I said to him I should think that's about as rare as a header for me when I played!

"So that was a nice feeling just before half-time, and the second half performance was excellent and similar to what we did at Histon last week in the second half. It's nice to get a convincing scoreline."

But the goal didn't change the manager's planned half-time team talk at all, as he explained: "Ebbsfleet had an extra player in midfield and we were trying to play through it, and I told them the way we would get round it would be channel balls. We want to be a passing team but if they're overloaded in the centre of midfield then you go to plan B, which is a good channel ball and stretch them, and that's what we did in the second half.

"We hit some decent balls in behind them and that paid dividends. I said to the players afterwards that two of the things that come from this game are our recovery runs from set plays, which I didn't think were good last week, and that they listened to instructions, and that pleases a manager."

After setting up Pitt for the opening goal, Chris Holroyd netted his thirteenth of the season from the penalty spot early in the second half after Pitt was brought down in the area, and Robbie Willmott and Danny Crow put the icing on the cake in the last ten minutes of a comprehensive win.

"It's nice to see four different scorers," said Ling. "That's good within your team and it gives the lads confidence to move on to better things, and the fourth goal was a special one. I think Phillo (Lee Phillips) would have just topped Crowy with the volley if it had gone it, but Crowy's was a decent finish as well and the icing on the cake.

"Robbie Willmott's wasn't bad either," he added, "and Courtney scored one and had a hand in two others, so the front four all got a goal. I said before the game that we're very offensive with those four players but sometimes it leaves you a little bit open, but if they get a goal each every time they play they can carry on playing!"

Ling went on to explain that the attacking set up makes demands of the two central midfielders and he was pleased with the way Jai Reason curbed his attacking instinct to support Paul Carden in the middle.

"You have to put the reins on them a bit because if you're playing with the two boys really wide then Jai has to be more disciplined," he said. "Paul has always been a disciplined player, but sometimes you can leave yourselves a little bit open in there if you go with Robbie and Courtney out wide so Jai has to be disciplined like he was today."

Today's was the first win in five games and Ling believes the three points, four goals and a clean sheet will boost confidence throughout the side: "It's an easy game when you're confident but you have to pick up results when things aren't going so well, and today was important for us.

"We've had a run of poor results until our second half performance against Histon last week and I want to see us play consistently at a good level. That's what I'm aiming for throughout the season and today we did it for most of the game but not all of the game.

"I know we have the players here and if we can keep them fit you know there are goals within the team, but the clean sheet is a pleasing thing too and that's something we'll have to keep working on as a team. With CRC winning today as well, and Adam Marriott scoring a hat-trick, it's a good day all round," he concluded.

Next Up

United are next in action at Hayes & Yeading on Saturday 17th October. The draw for the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup takes place on Monday and the fixtures will be played on Saturday 24th October.

[Match report] [Fixture list] [League table]

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