The next few weeks could be make or break time - both on and off the pitch - for Saturday's opponents, Ebbsfleet United.
It's been an up and down season so far for Liam Daish's men, and they currently sit 13th in the table, seven points adrift of the play off zone. A good run over the Christmas period could see them challenging for promotion, while a few more defeats will mean they only have their defence of the FA Trophy to concentrate on during the second half of the season.
Meanwhile February is the renewal date for members of MyFootballClub, the organisation made up of 30,000 fans from across the globe which bankrolls the club. With the club failing to progress much this season, it remains to be seen how many of the members will be inclined to cough up again, especially now the "pick the team" incentive has been removed.
Fleet have established themselves in the Blue Square Premier since winning promotion from the Ryman League in the 2001/02 under their old name of Gravesend and Northfleet.
After a couple of seasons flirting with relegation, promotion-winning manager Andy Ford departed mid-way through the 2004/05 season following a run of 14 matches without a win. The task of steering the Fleet to safety was handed to Cambridge United legends Liam Daish and Alan Kimble, and they performed magnificently, avoiding relegation and reaching the FA Trophy quarter finals in their first season.
Daish and Kimble oversaw the club's move to full-time status, and finishes of 14th and 7th places followed. 2007/08 turned out to be one of the most eventful seasons in the clubs long history, and began with the announcement that they would be changing their name to Ebbsfleet United as part of a sponsorship deal with Eurostar.
Ebbsfleet hit the headlines again in November 2007, when it was announced that fans website MyFootballClub had agreed a £700,000 takeover of the club. The deal was financed by the website's 30,000 members, who each paid £35 for a stake in the club on the premise that they would be have a say in everything from team selection to transfers to the type of pies stocked in the tea bars.
Although the deal went through in February, Daish continued in sole charge of team affairs, leading his squad to 11th place in the table. The real excitement came in the FA Trophy, where Fleet reached the final by beating Blue Square Premier champions Aldershot in a tense two-legged semi final.
More than 25,000 fans from across the globe travelled to Wembley to roar on their team, and their hearts were in their mouths when skipper Chris McPhee saw his penalty kick saved by Gulls keeper Simon Rayner. However, McPhee made amends by later netting the only goal of the game to secure the trophy.
MyFootballClub members subsequently agreed that Daish should retain control of all team selection matters. However they did sanction the transfer of star striker John Akinde, who has made a £140,000 move to Championship side Bristol City. 82 per cent of 7,452 members who voted backed Daish's decision to sell the talented 19-year old, who has been the subject of transfer speculation throughout the summer.
The Squad
McPhee was one of the players who left Stonebridge Road during the summer, fulfilling his wish to move nearer to his South West roots by joining Weymouth. Daish moved for a number of quality replacements as he bids to reach the play-offs for the first time.
In goal, England 'C' international Lance Cronin remains a fixture between the sticks. Club captain Paul McCarthy and Brentford loanee Darius Charles have been the regular centre back partnership, flanked by French left back Sacha Opinel and former Charlton youngster Mark Ricketts. United youth team product James Smith is another option, while summer signing Peter Hawkins could also be in contention.
Diminutive Stacy Long, who has a penchant for scoring long range goals, is the driving force behind the Fleet midfield, alongside Neil Barrett, who has shrugged off the injury problems which disrupted his previous season to feature in every game so far this campaign. In wide areas Ebbsfleet possess pace and skill in abundance, with home-grown left-sided player George Purcell and ex-Gillingham man Craig Stones likely to line up against United, although close-season capture Ricky Shakes, a Jamaican international, may have a part to play. Last week, they added another experienced head to the squad in the shape of Karl Murray, who has been turning out for Bromley this season but has Conference experience with Grays and Woking.
Ebbsfleet have plenty of options up front. A familiar face is likely to be leading the line in the shape of portly striker Michael Gash, who of course spent the 2006/07 season at the Abbey Stadium. After being signed by Rob Newman, 'Gashy' scored just two goals in the amber and black, and was soon loaned back to former club Cambridge City by Jimmy Quinn.
He faired significantly better at Milton Road, and after re-signing on a permanent basis hit 27 goals in the Conference South last season. When the Lilywhites were demoted to the Southern League, he had a trial at Oxford before joining Ebbsfleet for £30,000.
Gash's partner is likely to be another of Ebbsfleet's youth team graduates, Luke Moore, who was on target against United last season, beating Danny Potter from outside the area during last August's 1-1 draw between the two clubs at the Abbey Stadium.
Kezie Ibe, who joined from Chelmsford City in the summer, will also be in the squad, as will new signing Matthew Delicate, a British-born striker who has recently been playing in the States for the wonderfully named Rocester Rhinos.
This Season
Since our 1-1 draw at Stonebridge Road in September, which saw Lee McEvilly's opener cancelled out by Luke Moore, Ebbsfleet's form has been up and down like a rollercoaster.
They only suffered one defeat during September, 3-2 at Wrexham, leading to hopes among fans that they may sustain a push for the playoffs. However, a run of five successive defeats put pay to this idea, although they did prevail in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round by beating Woking after a replay.
Neil Barrett's winning goal against Barrow got them back to winning ways in the league, and since then they have squeezed past Crawley 2-1, thanks to late strikes from Moore and Gash, and drawn 0-0 with Kettering. However, their FA Cup run was ended by league one outfit Crewe Alexandra, who beat them 1-0 at Gresty Road.
Last time
A last gasp goal from Scott Rendell earned United a point in a 1-1 draw with Ebbsfleet on August Bank Holiday Monday last season.
Injuries meant Jimmy Quinn opted to field natural defenders Mark Albrighton and Stephen Reed in midfield, and this led United to look a little disjointed. A scrappy first half saw Lee Boylan have a goal disallowed for offside, and Gavin Hoyte rattle the bar with a 35-yard pile driver, while at the other end Mark DeBolla forced Danny Potter into a leaping save from his free kick.
Luke Moore gave Fleet the lead in brilliant fashion just before the break, evading a challenge on the edge of the area and beating Potter with a curling effort.
United piled on the pressure in the second half, but looked to be heading for their first defeat of the season until two substitutes combined to force a late equaliser. Michael Hyem's shot from the edge of the box bounced off the underside of the bar and Rendell nodded in the rebound from close range. It was the young striker's first goal in United colours, and lets hope he can register the first goal of his second spell in tomorrow's game.
Matt Gooding
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