Post by casper on Apr 16, 2015 16:54:03 GMT
www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/the-club/2012-04-10-18-56-53/latest-club-news/3029-ebbsfleet-united-match-preview.html
Ebbsfleet United Match Preview
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Published on Thursday, 16 April 2015 12:04
Written by Tom Norman
We welcome Ebbsfleet United to Clarence Park on Saturday, for our final home fixture of our first season back in the Vanarama Conference South.
While it has been and up and down season in many regards, overall, I think most will agree that it has been a success, having stayed up comfortably in the end, and hopefully we can build on that success at the weekend.
The Saints made the trip down to Kent earlier this season, and suffered a 4-1 defeat. While City did have David Keenleyside sent off, the home side out-classed the Saints for most of the afternoon.
A consolation goal from Steve Wales was the only positive for the Saints on a disappointing day at the office.
Our opponents, in their current guise of Ebbsfleet United, have only visited Clarence Park once before. That fixture came in October 2010, when two Fleet goals either side of an Inih Effiong strike gave the club from Northfleet the three points, in a season which eventually saw the Saints relegated down to the Southern Premier.
Of course, there are no such relegation worries, and with the Fleet only managing a draw at home to Boreham Wood on Saturday afternoon, our opponents cannot reach the play-offs. Apart from one or two positions in the table, there isn't much to play for today, so hopefully we will see an entertaining and open game.
In their past five league outings, Ebbsfleet have secured wins against Wealdstone and Whitehawk, but only picked up a point against Boreham Wood, and lost away to Concord Rangers in early March. Their final fixture of this run of five games came on Tuesday night, when visiting Bath City, and while there was nothing riding on the match, Ebbsfleet fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat.
Jamie Day, who only took over at Stonebridge Road in December 2014, will be hoping to end the season with two wins, as he looks to begin the building process for next season. His Ebbsfleet United side will surely be the early season favourites for next season's title, thanks to the number of League and Vanarama Conference National players that have been brought in this season.
The Saints, meanwhile, will be hoping to give City's loyal home fans a stellar performance on Saturday afternoon.
Following a disappointing defeat away to Bishops Stortford two weeks ago, the Saints have put in two excellent team performances against sides who were chasing the play-off places.
The first victory was one of the best home performances of the season, when City strolled to a 3-0 victory against Eastbourne, courtesy of goals from Wales, Thomas and OG.
Five days later, and City picked up three points on the road at Gosport Borough, with another all-round team performance resulting in a 2-1 win. Goals from Thomas and N'Guessan all but ended Gosport's hopes of a play-off place, and have helped set the Saints up for their final two fixtures.
Jimmy Gray and Graham Golds have spoken of their delight after the victories against Eastbourne and Gosport, and will certainly fancy their chances of picking up more points this afternoon. However, they will still be without Charlie Gorman, who has a long term back injury, and it also looks likely that Omar Beckles will be absent.
While this season hasn't been in perfect in many ways, I'm sure Saints fans will show their appreciation of the work the management and players have done this season.
Ebbsfleet United Match Preview
Details
Published on Thursday, 16 April 2015 12:04
Written by Tom Norman
We welcome Ebbsfleet United to Clarence Park on Saturday, for our final home fixture of our first season back in the Vanarama Conference South.
While it has been and up and down season in many regards, overall, I think most will agree that it has been a success, having stayed up comfortably in the end, and hopefully we can build on that success at the weekend.
The Saints made the trip down to Kent earlier this season, and suffered a 4-1 defeat. While City did have David Keenleyside sent off, the home side out-classed the Saints for most of the afternoon.
A consolation goal from Steve Wales was the only positive for the Saints on a disappointing day at the office.
Our opponents, in their current guise of Ebbsfleet United, have only visited Clarence Park once before. That fixture came in October 2010, when two Fleet goals either side of an Inih Effiong strike gave the club from Northfleet the three points, in a season which eventually saw the Saints relegated down to the Southern Premier.
Of course, there are no such relegation worries, and with the Fleet only managing a draw at home to Boreham Wood on Saturday afternoon, our opponents cannot reach the play-offs. Apart from one or two positions in the table, there isn't much to play for today, so hopefully we will see an entertaining and open game.
In their past five league outings, Ebbsfleet have secured wins against Wealdstone and Whitehawk, but only picked up a point against Boreham Wood, and lost away to Concord Rangers in early March. Their final fixture of this run of five games came on Tuesday night, when visiting Bath City, and while there was nothing riding on the match, Ebbsfleet fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat.
Jamie Day, who only took over at Stonebridge Road in December 2014, will be hoping to end the season with two wins, as he looks to begin the building process for next season. His Ebbsfleet United side will surely be the early season favourites for next season's title, thanks to the number of League and Vanarama Conference National players that have been brought in this season.
The Saints, meanwhile, will be hoping to give City's loyal home fans a stellar performance on Saturday afternoon.
Following a disappointing defeat away to Bishops Stortford two weeks ago, the Saints have put in two excellent team performances against sides who were chasing the play-off places.
The first victory was one of the best home performances of the season, when City strolled to a 3-0 victory against Eastbourne, courtesy of goals from Wales, Thomas and OG.
Five days later, and City picked up three points on the road at Gosport Borough, with another all-round team performance resulting in a 2-1 win. Goals from Thomas and N'Guessan all but ended Gosport's hopes of a play-off place, and have helped set the Saints up for their final two fixtures.
Jimmy Gray and Graham Golds have spoken of their delight after the victories against Eastbourne and Gosport, and will certainly fancy their chances of picking up more points this afternoon. However, they will still be without Charlie Gorman, who has a long term back injury, and it also looks likely that Omar Beckles will be absent.
While this season hasn't been in perfect in many ways, I'm sure Saints fans will show their appreciation of the work the management and players have done this season.