Ebbsfleet 4-1 St Albans City

As part of the annual Non-League Day initiative to get fans through the gates of their local clubs during the international break, Fleet were handing out Sheringham T-shirts to young season ticket holders.

And he had them cheering in the stands by scoring twice before the break to put Steve Brown’s men in command.

They suffered a scare early in the second half when Steve Wales halved the deficit.

However, St Albans’ hopes of a comeback were dashed by substitute David Keenleyside, who picked up two cautions in quick succession to reduce the visitors to 10-men.

And Bricknell took full advantage by hitting the target on 69 and 73 minutes to ensure the Fleet put their recent dip behind them in fine style.

It was the visitors who created the first opening inside five minutes as Tom Ward’s free-kick was headed over by captain Ben Martin.

But it was the hosts who broke the deadlock on 12 minutes.

Daryl McMahon’s goal-bound effort was deflected behind for a corner, from which Sheringham rose high to head powerfully past former Fleet keeper Joe Welch in the St Albans goal.

Sheringham almost glanced in another corner whipped in from the opposite side nine minutes later but this time his attempt flew just over the bar.

But the striker wasn’t to be denied for long as he calmly volleyed home his and Ebbsfleet’s second on 33 minutes from 15 yards after Kenny Clark had cleverly chested the ball into his path from McMahon’s free-kick.

Preston Edwards had to get down low to gather Dean Shields’ low shot after Steve Wales had picked him out unmarked inside the Fleet box.

It should have been 3-0 as the first half drew to a close when Anthony Cook’s delivery was met by Bricknell, whose close range header was somehow kept out by Welch.

St Albans’ number one was called into action again deep into stoppage time to deny Alex Osborn and then Cook as the visitors went in perhaps somewhat fortunate to only find themselves trailing by two goals.

Sheringham tried his luck with a volley from outside of the box three minutes after the restart, producing another save from Welch.

However, the deficit was halved moments later as Steve Wales headed home after John Frendo’s initial effort had hit the woodwork.

Bricknell’s cross-cum-shot just evaded the far post with Welch beaten and then Dean Rance saw an ambitious 54th minute volley fly over.

Sheringham broke clear but placed his shot straight at the keeper and the hat-trick seeking striker was again clean through on goal just before the hour after being found by Osborn’s low pass, only to  fire inches wide.

Another chance fell Sheringham’s way on 64 minutes but this time he headed over.

St Albans were reduced to 10-men midway through the half as substitute Keenleyside’s late lunge on Rance earned him a second yellow card in the space of a couple of minutes.

And they were punished almost instantly when Fleet added a third courtesy of Bricknell, who latched on to Shane Huke’s pass before calmly slotting past Welch.

Only the post prevented Bricknell volley’s increasing the advantage and McMahon fired over when ideally placed to score.

However, Bricknell soon grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 73rd minute by converting Matt Godden’s flick on.

Welch did well to tip behind Godden’s drive and only a last-gasp headed Tom Ward headed clearance denied Sheringham his treble, who even had an 84th minute ‘goal’ chalked out by the officials.

There was still time for Martin to power a header against the bar as the 10-men went in search of a late consolation.

But Fleet were well worth their three-goal cushion and will probably feel they should have scored even more.

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Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Huke, Howe, McMahon (Johnson 80), Acheampong, Clark, Osborn (Godden 65), Rance (Fraser 76), Sheringham, Bricknell, Cook. Subs not used: Palmer, Hall. Att: 1,034