Ebbsfleet United are set to play Grays Athletic for the second time in less than a week. The Fleet went 1-0 down to Grays in the 19th minute before substituted John Akinde was able to keep the Fleet afloat with a 76th minute equaliser. The Essex side finished 19th in the Conference National last season, and currently are two places below the Fleet with a game in hand.

Player News

Paul McCarthy is still out serving his second match in a 2 match suspension. No new Fleet injuries have been announced.

For Grays, defender Adam Gross could return after a hamstring injury while midfielder Charlie Hearn may also make an appearance after making good recovery from a foot injury.

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Last Season

Both matches last season were 2-0 victories for the Fleet. The first match, at Stonebridge Road, had goals from Charlie MacDonald and Mark DeBolla either side of the break.

In the second, an away match on a cold January day, Liam Coleman fired past the keeper in the first half. Before Charlie MacDonald ended his no-goal spell by securely putting away the goal post rebound from Onome Sodje. This match pushed the Fleet up to third in the league.

The Fleet clinched their first victory double of the season after a last gasp John Akinde goal gave the Fleet a deserved 1-0 victory over strugglers Stafford Rangers at Marston Lane.

In a match played in the worst of conditions consisting of cold temperatures, rain and what seemed like gale force winds it was never going to be a high scoring game, despite the early indications. Both teams were quick out of the blocks - a positive sign for the Fleet considering they had only arrived 30 minutes before kick off because of heavy traffic on the M6 - with both sides testing their opposition keepers before the 10 minute mark. Lance Cronin continued his brilliant Boxing Day form with a good save with his feet early on.

The Fleet continued the pressure and forced a number of corners, but the accurate former Accrington keeper Danny Alcock managed to pluck any lose balls out of the air that came anywhere close to him, snuffing any possible threats Ebbsfleet were posing from the corners.

The rest of the first half left a lot to be desired, and with the Fleet pressure prominent but without a break through - much like that of Grays’ on boxing day - the bigger than average away following (due to a MyFootballClub meet up) was beginning to wonder if the goal would come.

The second half put ‘Boro more in the spotlight, and even though Ebbsfleet saw enough of the ball, Stafford started to look dangerous on the counter-attack. The pace of 43 year old veteran Neil Grayson and David McNiven left the Fleet defence exposed, although with Cronin alert as ever any long balls that were hoofed up and over - as we know Stafford like to play - were overall well dealt with.

The same pattern progressed to form a tense final stage of the match, and the hard work for the Fleet to break down the strong Stafford defence eventually paid off one minute into the two allocated for stoppage time. A long through ball down the right hand side sent Luke Moore into the corner with support coming forward. With the home players also back tracking, the ball was flown into the box towards Stacy Long, but after losing his footing and barely making contact, John Akinde latched onto the lose ball on the 6 yard box to turn and pass the ball calmly into Alcock’s bottom right corner for Akinde’s fourth goal in four games in all competitions to snatch victory for the Fleet.

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18 year old midfielder Lee Maskell, who made the jump from the youth team to the first team at the start of the season, has now moved to Blue Square South outfit Sutton United on a month’s loan.

Following their Boxing Day draw away at Grays Athletic, the Fleet will now travel to Staffordshire to play 23rd place Stafford Rangers. Rangers were promoted in the 2005/06 season after finishing 2nd in the Conference North and winning against Droylsden in the play-offs on penalties. Stafford Rangers finished 20th last season, and while the Fleet were attempting to finish in the play-offs on the last day of season, Stafford were attempting to stay out of relegation zone, a feat they accomplished despite losing 1-0 to Forest Green Rovers.

The Fleet defeated Stafford earlier this season at home, coming back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 with goals from George Purcell and Stacy Long. See match report. Stafford have played four matches since playing the Fleet, drawing at home to Northwich, defeated away at Aldershot 4-3 and defeated at home to Burton Albion 3-0. However they did defeat Northern Premier club Ossett Town 3-1.

Player News

There are no new injury worries for the Fleet, however Paul McCarthy will be absent from the match, serving the first match of his two match suspension for hand-balling on the goal line a second time this season.

Stafford will be without Welsh midfielder Chris Flynn who was sent off in the Boxing Day match against Burton Albion. Stafford will also be missing forward Nathan Smith and defender Fred Murray who are both injured.

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Last Season

Gravesend and Northfleet endured two heavy defeats to Stafford Rangers last season. An October home tie resulted in a 4-1 loss for the Fleet, with Charlie MacDonald headering home after the Fleet went 2-0 down. Video of goal.

While a March away trip resulted in another poor performance from the Fleet with a 3-1 defeat, Alex Varney scored the solitary Fleet goal after bundling past two defenders and putting the ball in the top corner from the edge of the area.

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All the staff here at EbbsfleetUnited.net would like to wish all our viewers a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. It has been a turbulent time for Fleet fans this year, with two major happenings at the club, but here’s to a somewhat calmer and quieter year, and every success for the coming years.

Yours
Ian Dickety
Barnaby Smith and
Mike Moyes

Ebbsfleet United are set to travel away this Boxing Day to local rivals Grays Athletic. The Essex side finished 19th in the Conference National last season, and currently are two places below the Fleet with a game in hand. The Blues’ last league match was over a month ago, when they lost to Aldershot 3-2 away. Since, they have won a home tie against Lewes, scoring 3-0.

Player News

Chukki Eribenne is available again after serving his 3-match suspension, and there are no fresh injuries for the Fleet.

Grays Athletic will be without defender Adam Gross and midfielder Charley Hearn, who are out with a hamstring injury and foot injury respectively.
Current Form

Current Table

Last Season

Both matches last season were 2-0 victories for the Fleet. The first match, at Stonebridge Road, had goals from Charlie MacDonald and Mark DeBolla either side of the break.

In the second, an away match on a cold January day, Liam Coleman fired past the keeper in the first half. Before Charlie MacDonald ended his no-goal spell by securely putting away the goal post rebound from Onome Sodje. This match pushed the Fleet up to third in the league.

Ebbsfleet United went through to the fifth round of the Setanta Shield last friday, defeating Exeter City away 3-2 with the winner coming after extra time. This means currently the Fleet are in three cup competitions Setanta Shield R5, Kent Senior Cup QF and FA Trophy R2. The draw for the next round of the Setanta Shield is complete, with the Fleet being tied against Weymouth away. This match must be played before the end of February.

The full draw comprises:

Northern Section

Droylsden/Farsley Celtic v Burton Albion
Kidderminster Harriers v Rushden & Diamonds
Nuneaton Borough v Halifax Town
York City v Barrow/Northwich Victoria

Southern Section

Crawley Town v Welling United/Grays Athletic
St.Albans City v Aldershot Town
Weymouth v Ebbsfleet United
Woking v Forest Green Rovers

While the results for round 4 are as follows:

Northern Section
Barrow - Northwich Victoria
Burton Albion 2-1 Tamworth
Cambridge United 0-1 Rushden & Diamonds
Droylsden OFF Farsley Celtic
Hinckley United 1-2 Kidderminster Harriers
Histon 1-2 Halifax Town
Nuneaton Borough 2-1 Altrincham
Stafford Rangers 0-2 York City AET

Southern Section
Aldershot Town 1-0 Oxford United
Eastbourne Borough 1-2 Crawley Town
Exeter City 2-3 Ebbsfleet United AET
Hampton & Richmond Borough 0-1 Forest Green Rovers
St Albans City 2-0 Torquay United
Salisbury City 1-2 Weymouth
Welling United - Grays Athletic (21 December)
Woking 2-1 Stevenage Borough

Just a reminder that the fans forum is tonight at 8PM in the bar at Stonebridge Road stadium. The intention of the meeting is stated as allowing existing fans to discuss the MyFootballClub takeover with the Ebbsfleet United directors.

Ebbsfleet United went into the second round of the FA Trophy, after Saturday’s 4 -1 win against Ryman Premier club Carshalton Athletic. The draw for the next round is now complete, and the Fleet will be travelling away to play Dorchester Town at their Avenue Stadium. The Conference South team defeated holders Stevenage 2-1 to get to this round, scoring the winner in a 90th minute penalty. In the first round, former rivals Canvey Island were defeated by Bishop’s Stortford 8-0, while Grays Athletic were victorious at home with a 3-0 win against Lewes. League leaders Aldershot won 5-0 away at Hayes & Yeading, while second place Torquay defeated Bashley with a solitary goal at home. The Fleet will play Dorchester on Saturday 12 January 2008.

The draw in full comprises:

Vauxhall Motors - Burton Albion
Woking - Aldershot Town
Oxford United / Tonbridge Angels - AFC Wimbledon
Droylsden - Cambridge City
Weymouth - Guiseley AFC / Kidderminster Harriers
Gateshead / Farsley Celtic - Alfreton Town / Southport
Rushden & Diamonds - Exeter City
Dorchester Town - Ebbsfleet United
Histon - Cambridge United
Braintree Town - Workington
Bishop’s Stortford - Halifax Town / Leamington
Newport County - Torquay United
Stafford Rangers - Forest Green Rovers
Crawley Town - Eastleigh
York City - Grays Athletic

Results from the first round:

AFC Telford United 1 - 2 Blyth Spartans
Alfreton Town P-P Southport
Altrincham 1 - 3 York City
Bamber Bridge 2 - 3 Rushden & Diamonds
Bishop’s Stortford 8 - 0 Canvey Island
Cambridge City 3 - 2 Kettering
Cambridge United 5 - 0 King’s Lynn
Colwyn Bay 1 - 2 Burton Albion
Crawley Town 1 - 0 Bromley
Dorchester Town 2 - 1 Stevenage Borough
Droylsden 2 - 1 Redditch United
Eastleigh 1 - 0 Bognor Regis Town
Ebbsfleet United 4 - 1 Carshalton Athletic
Exeter City 3 - 0 Salisbury City
Gateshead 1 - Farlsley Celtic
Gloucester City 0 - 2 Braintree Town
Grays Athletic 3 - 0 Lewes
Guiseley P-P Kidderminster Harriers
Halifax Town P-P Leamington
Hayes & Yeading 0 - 5 Aldershot Town
Hemel Hempstead Town 0 - 1 Woking
Histon 5 - 2 Retford United
Hucknall Town P-P Tamworth
Leigh RMI 1 - 3 Workington
Maidenhead United 0 - 2 AFC Wimbledon
Newport County 3 - 0 Bath City
Oxford United 0 - 0 Tonbridge Angels
Stafford Rangers 3 - 1 Ossett Town
Sutton United 1 - 4 Forest Green Rovers
Torquay United 1 - 0 Bashley
Vauxhall Motors 2 - 1 Northwich Victoria
Wealdstone 0 - 1 Weymouth