Hardly related to Hyde or Ebbsfleet, but Phil Jevons has his own song made about him!
THE OPPOSITION
Hyde FC – formerly Hyde United.Nickname - The Tigers
Founded – 1919
Ground – Ewan Fields, 4073 capacity.
Chairman – Tamir Khan
Manager – Scott McNiven
Captain – Adam Griffin
Top scorer – Phil Jevons (14)
Despite only just being promoted to this division, Hyde have formed a decent squad this season with many of their players having vital Football League experience. Players such as Matty Blinkhorn, Phil Jevons, Chris Sedgwick, Raymond Puterill, Kelvin Lomax and Adam Griffin have all spent a good amount of time playing in the Football League and impressive striker Scott Spencer could cause problems.
THE SEASON SO FAR
The Tigers didn’t have the greatest of starts to the season – it took them until 9 September to get their first win, a 5-2 victory at home to Hereford United. Sitting in the bottom four then, the Tigers have had a mixed bag of results since – but have done enough to climb the table and not look back, picking up some impressive results including a 7-0 victory at home to Woking and victories against title-chasing Newport County and Grimsby Town.The Tigers come into this game on the back of a 2-0 loss away at Grimsby. The home side had plenty of shots but failed to test the Hyde goalkeeper enough throughout the game. The all-important breakthrough finally came in the 84th minute as striker Andy Cook converted Jamie Devitt’s cross before sealing the points in the 90th minute with a strike from the edge of the box.
The Fleet are yet to play since their 1-0 loss at Woking on 13 January as the last two games have been postponed due to bad weather. Due to play Tamworth at home, and Cambridge away, those games were both postponed due to a frozen pitch. Dates for the rescheduled games have not been set yet.
Hyde’s 2-0 loss at Grimsby leaves them sitting 15th in the table and three points clear of safety, six places below them – which highlights just how close this division is.
Due to Barrow pulling off a shock 2-0 win away at Newport County the ‘Fleet now sit bottom of the table and seven points from safety. Good results are few and far between this season but the lads will be hoping to start a run of results with a good result here!
There are no guarantees this match will go ahead given the continuing wintry weather but the Hyde groundstaff will be doing all they can to ensure the match is on. For updates check the Hyde and/or Ebbsfleet website and forum or check the clubs’ Twitter feeds: @EUFCOfficial and @hydefclive.
KEY PLAYERS
Phil Jevons (pictured to the right) has been in phenomenal form this season. The former Grimsby man, who will be remembered for his winning striker in the League Cup to dump Liverpool out, has found the net on 14 occasions this season and is very much in the fight for top scorer in the Blue Square Premier this season. Another player Hyde look to is Chris Sedgwick; the midfielder is the cog of the team, most of the play goes through him. Having featured regularly for Rotherham United, Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday since 1997 he found himself struggling to get into Scunthorpe’s side this season. After making three appearances he was sent out on loan to Hyde and that deal has recently been made permanent.The Fleet will look to Nathan Elder to win them this game.The striker has hit 12 goals this season and having not played for a couple of weeks he’ll be eager to get back in the firing line. Preston Edwards will be key for the Fleet against an in-form front line of Phil Jevons and Scott Spencer, not to mention the attacking prowess of Hyde’s midfield, who will be looking to test the Fleet defence as much as possible.
TEAM NEWS
The only noted absence for the Tigers is Tunji Moses. The tough tackling midfielder is missing with a gashed leg. Raymond Puterill has recently been signing from Rochdale after making 20 Football League appearances in the first half of the season and Chris Sedgwick, as mentioned, has made his move permanent and will look to continue his good form.Long-term injury victims Moses Ashikodi and Ram Marwa remain on the sidelines for the Fleet, and Ashley Carew looks to finally begin his three-match suspension. Other than this, Liam Daish has no fresh worries with his squad.
HYDE’S LAST SIX MATCHES (WWWLLL):
Hyde 2-1 AFC Telford United
Stockport County 0-2 Hyde
Southport 0-1 Hyde
Hyde 0-1 Stockport County
Hyde 0-1 Forest Green Rovers
Grimsby Town 2-0 Hyde
Goals: 5
Conceded: 5
EBBSFLEET’S LAST SIX MATCHES (LLLDDL):
Ebbsfleet United 2-4 Cambridge
Mansfield Town 4-1 Ebbsfleet United
Dartford 3-1 Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United 2-2 Dartford
Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Lincoln City
Woking 1-0 Ebbsfleet United
Goals: 7
Conceded: 15
PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Due to this being Hyde’s first season at the top of Non-League, there has only been one meeting between the two sides.
10.11.12 – Ebbsfleet United 3-2 Hyde.
LAST TIME OUT:
Ebbsfleet United 3-2 Hyde.
The first league meeting between the two sides was an exciting affair. Hyde came out of the blocks firing as they took a two-goal lead inside 11 minutes. Ryan Crowther (4) and Matthew Blinkhorn (11) put the Tigers two goals up and it looked all doom and gloom for the Fleet until the 35th minute when Neil Barrett rose first and headed the hosts a vital goal. Behind at half-time the Fleet had it all to do and finally levelled up in the 72nd minute as Nathan Elder calmly put the ball in the net before substitute Matt Godden slotted the ball home seven minutes later to not only cap off a great 20-minute cameo on his debut, but give the Fleet three massive points.
Attendance: 779.
HOW THE BOOKIES SEE IT:
William Hill have Hyde favourites at 4/5 with decent odds for a ‘Fleet win at 3/1. A draw comes in at 12/5.
Bet Victor again have Hyde favourites, this time at 17/20 with the ‘Fleet at 31/10. 5/2 are the odds for a draw.
Coral have Hyde favourites at 10/11 with the ‘Fleet at 5/2. A draw for this match sees odds of 11/5. If you fancy the ‘Fleet to win 3-2 like earlier in the season then the odds are 33/1.
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