Fleet's new-look side finally got their season moving on Saturday with a comfortable win against Ryman League Division One side, Epsom & Ewell, in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup competition. A 16th minute goal by striker, Mark Frampton was enough for the Calthorpe Park side to grab the spoils and earn a next round tie, away to Sussex league side, Three Bridges from Crawley.
As well as pocketing the prize money on Saturday, the Fleet side also avenged their first round exit in last season's FA Trophy competition, when Epsom came out on top in a one-sided, replayed tie.
Now under new management, this was a very different looking Fleet side to the one that struggled for most of last season. Mick Catlin's men took control right from the off and straight away Epsom keeper, Dave Hyatt was kept busy dealing with crosses and corners from both sides of the pitch.
Fleet's goal wasnąt long in coming. A corner was gathered in by Frampton and his neat flick on to strike partner, Ben Tiller, was dummied into the net, past an unsighted Hyatt.
Earlier Epsom had gone close when a defensive error let in wingman, Nick Williams, whose deflected shot hit the upright.
After going ahead Fleet threatened to run away with the tie, producing a prolonged spell of quick, passing football that created a hatful of chances the first falling to Frampton, from a great cross from wingman, Shaun Hale. Almost immediately mid-fielder Steve Black had the goal at his mercy, but his shot went wide. Fleet continued to pile on the pressure and from one of many corners, mid-fielder Ed Hare just missed the target with a powerful volley.
In the end none of these chances were taken and Epsom were still in the game at half-time.
After the break the visitors managed to disrupt Fleet's fluency, but failed to make much of their greater possession. One chance early on looked to have provided the equaliser, but defender, Ray Power, saw his strike from close range soar high over the bar.
Fleet then had several chances to seal the tie. In the 70th minute defender John Murphy went close as did Frampton and then Hale a few minutes later. In the end the single goal was enough to take Fleet through to the next round.
FLEET TOWN: May, Buckland, Blakely, Murphy, Saunders, Hare, Black, Anstey, Tiller, (sub, Parker, 76 mins), Frampton, Hale. Subs not used: Millerick, Proctor, Smith.