Maidenhead defender David Mantle. Photo: Maidenhead United FC

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Ebbsfleet United 4, Maidenhead United 0

Maidenhead United’s already brittle confidence was weakened further on Saturday as hosts Ebbsfleet United cantered to a comfortable 4-0 win at Stonebridge Road.

Maidenhead United had expected to be challenging up alongside Ebbsfleet this season - or at least be in the mix for a play-off finish in Ryan Peters’ first full season in charge as manager.

However, this defeat - their third on the spin in the National League South - leaves Peters’ side languishing down in 18th place, just three points and a couple of places above the relegation zone.

Right now, any thoughts of battling for promotion must be pushed to the back of their minds as they look to first extricate them from their lowly league position.

They do still have time to rescue this campaign, with only 13 games played so far and the side still just eight points off the top seven. However, their form so far this season gives little indication they’ll be able to put together the kind of sustained run needed to rocket up the table.

Time will tell on that front, and they do at least now have two home games to try and recover some form and confidence. Peters’ side are yet to win a league game at home, but they’ll have two more bites at that cherry when Horsham visit York Road on Tuesday before Dagenham & Redbridge are entertained on Saturday afternoon.

 This win lifted Ebbsfleet to within a point of leaders Maidstone United - who were held at Torquay United. They also have two games in hand on the Stones having had their early season matches postponed because of the club’s financial problems. 

United were more competitive in last week’s 2-1 loss at Maidstone - where they hit the crossbar and spurned other chances.

However, on a blustery day at Stonebridge Road, they were very much second best to the National League South’s in-form side. And for a fourth match in a row against Ebbsfleet, they conceded three goals or more.

 Ben Chapman’s first half double out Fleet in the driving seat.

He fired in the first of his three goals in the 17th minute, ghosting in to tap home Lennon Peake’s cross from the left from close range. 

The Magpies’ defence switched off once again in the 24th minute when Edser’s ball across the box reached Chapman and he made no mistake. Peters admitted in the week the Magpies were gifting their rivals’ chances to score and once again he’ll feel they didn’t do enough to put off the hosts in the first half. 

Ebbsfleet might have had more before the break, but the Magpies managed to survive through to the interval and for much of the second half before folding in the latter stages. 

Jordi Van Stappershoef saved well from Edser in the 53rd minute while Daniel Ogunleye and Kennedy both had efforts within the space of a few seconds in the 56th minute that were blocked. 

Josh Coley came close to getting on the scoresheet against his old club in the 60th minute but he was thwarted by Buse. 

While the traffic wasn’t exactly one-way, it was more in the direction of Van Stappershoef’s goal as the game progressed, and Ebbsfleet scored a third when Finlay Barnes was brought down in the box for a penalty in the 85th minute.

Chapman stepped up to sweep home his first hat-trick for the club in the 87th minute before making way for Mankelow a couple of minutes later and receiving a rapturous reception from the home crowd.

 Sadly, Maidenhead’s misery wasn’t yet complete, and they conceded an own goal in stoppage time to go down to a 4-0 defeat, Vokins ball into the box deflecting past Van Stappershoef.

Speaking in the week, Peters said he was aware of supporters’ growing criticism of his side. Those concerns will only grow off the back of this desperately disappointing display.