Ebbsfleet Preview – Round 1

Stevenage face Ebbsfleet United on Saturday in the first leg of the FA Trophy Semi-Final. Both teams know what it’s like to win at this stage as the two clubs are the two previous winners of the competition. Ebbsfleet beat Torquay in last season’s final thanks to a goal from Chris McPhee, while Boro came back from 2-0 down to beat Kidderminster 3-2 in the first Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium in May 2007.

Boro are the form team in the league at the moment, while their opponents are struggling to find consistency. Ebbsfleet were labelled by some as the dark horses for promotion this season after a solid season last year and the Trophy success, but have found results hard to come by. United started the season well before slumping around October/November time. Again though they have begun to find some form and haven’t lost since a 1-0 defeat away at Woking on the 24th January.

Ebbsfleet come into the game at Broadhall Way on the back of a 2-1 victory over runaway leaders Burton Albion. A brace from Giuseppe Sole gave the Kent side the win which lifts them up to 17th position in the Blue Square Premier. Ebbsfleet are always tricky opponents although our record against them at home is very good. Our record at Stonebridge Road is average and Graham Westley’s side won’t want a repeat of the 4-0 hammering they got back in August in what was one of the worst Stevenage performances in the last decade.

Stevenage will be looking to get a comfortable advantage in the first leg knowing the visit to Kent in a weeks time will not be easy. If Boro play like they did against Burton in one of the earlier rounds then I expect another high scoring victory, but recently the performance levels seem to have dropped and if they are not at their best then Ebbsfleet can be dangerous opponents. Graham Westley will be hoping that Steve Morison can re-discover his goalscoring touch which seems to have gone missing in recent games. Boro are a totally different team when Morison isn’t firing, but if he plays well then expect the rest to fall into place.

Prediction: Boro 2-0 Ebbsfleet United