What better place to welcome in the first official game of the 2023-24 season than at the ever welcoming and truly inspiring home of Punjab United, one of Kent’s friendliest clubs? The fixture was hailed as the Steve Cook Trophy, in memory of the club’s former groundsman, and saw Ebbsfleet United, winners of the National League South in 2022-23, play Punjab United, who were winners of the Kent Senior Trophy, back in the Spring.

Punjab had a decent season last year, winning the Kent Senior Trophy and performing well to sustain their SCEFL Premier Division status. Manager Chipie Sian has been joined in the dugout by the experienced, ex Erith & Belvedere coach, Del Oldfield, in an attempt to add some quality, to ensure the side go onto even bigger things in 2023-24.

There was a big crowd in attendance for the, unusually early, 10.45 am start. Ebbsfleet United fans were wondering if new signings David Amoo, Ouis Cisse, Matthias Fanimo, Jack Wakely and Hayden White would make their debuts.

Ebbsfleet United scored the opening goal on three minutes, when a swift attack saw Shaquile Coulthirst break free, to feed Greg Cundle, who put the away side 0-1 up.

In the 9th minute it was 0-2, when Shaquile Coulthirst finished to add a goal to his earlier assist.

Ebbsfleet United made it a comfortable 0-3 in the 44th minute, when Darren McQueen fired home from just inside the Punjab area, to send the away side into the break with a three goal cushion.

The second half saw Ebbsfleet make a bank of changes to give another set of players a first game of the season. Chipie Sian, the Punjab United manager took his team in to work on strategies to help them find a way back into this game for the second half.

Punjab started the second half with a new determination and created a one on one chance with the Ebbsfleet keeper in the 46th minute, which Tunde Aderonmu just couldn’t quite finish.

Within a minute, Ebbsfleet United showed how deadly they are on the break, with David Amoo scoring to put them 0-4 ahead and leave a frustrated Punjab United ruing their missed chance.

On 60 minutes, a cross from the right was met by an Ebbsfleet United triallist, who slid the ball home to put Ebbsfleet United 0-5 ahead.

Ebbsfleet United’s new signing, Jack Wakely scored, after a neat one-two, to make it 0-6 on 74 minutes.

At the final whistle it was Ebbsfleet United who made the three leagues between the two sides show clearly, coming away with the Steve Cook trophy and the win in their opening pre season fixture. Punjab United never looked like winning this game but they gave everything until the final whistle and defended with passion at times to keep the score to just 0-6. As ever the atmosphere, crowd of what must have exceeded 250, and welcome at Punjab made this a special way to open the season.