This Saturday we welcome old friends in the shape of Daryl McMahon, Osei Sankofa and Michael Thallassitis with the visit of high flying Ebbsfleet United.
The Kent side are looking to emulate their feat of the 2010-2011 season when they gained promotion back to the Conference Premier via the Play Off Finals at the first attempt. That one season in the South Division followed a decade of Premier League football, during which time the club also lifted the F A Trophy in front of over 40,000 fans.
An almost distant memory of one of our visits to Stonebridge Road came in the penultimate game of the 2001-2002 season, just prior to The Fleet embarking upon their decade of Conference Premier football. Locked in a runaway two horse race for the title with Canvey Island around 3000 fans turned out in anticipation for their last home game of the campaign. Just a victory against us and Canvey failing to take maximum points would have started the party the majority of the crowd had come for.
It was not be with Corey Browne’s breakaway winner giving us an unlikely victory, made even worse for Fleet fans with the news that The Islanders had only drawn at home to 15th placed Sutton United. The title was settled the following Saturday however when on the final day of the season victory at Bedford Town was consolation for the party that could have been!
Back to today and with The Fleet eight points clear of fifth placed Dover Athletic it will take a mighty slip up to deny the side a crack at the top flight again. They arrive in nomadic style with this being their fourth of five straight away ties. A win at Tonbridge Angels was followed by a 1-1 draw at Whitehawk and narrow defeat at the hands of Havant and Waterlooville.
We are still in need of points to ensure safety ourselves and can draw upon our fine 0-0 draw earlier this season down at Ebbsfleet as inspiration to go one better!
Home v Ebbsfleet United.
Saturday March 22nd, kick off 3pm.
Come on You Wood!
