Tuesday night's rearranged fixture sees Ebbsfleet travel to the Abbey Stadium to face Cambridge, a side they have only beaten twice in thirteen matches. The sides have met at the Abbey six times with Cambridge winning four of them, the other two ending in draws. The Fleet will be looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since mid November when they beat Hyde and Macclesfield. The Fleet have lost their last seven away matches.
Cambridge United FCFounded - 1912 (as Abbey United)
Nicknames - The U's, United
Ground - The Abbey Stadium
Manager - Richard Money
Captain - Kevin Roberts
Top scorer - Tom Elliott (13)
Cambridge are again a comfortable mid-table side in the Blue Square Premier. The fans would have been hoping they could at least make some sort of challenge for the play-offs but it wasn't to be for another year. The U's were struggling at the wrong end of the table but a run of nine games unbeaten, stretching two months, saw them creep up the table and into a safe position. On the cup front the U's have struggled this season, falling at the first hurdle in the FA Cup after a 0-2 defeat at home to Luton before a 0-1 loss to Gateshead in the FA Trophy second round.
Cambridge picked up an impressive three points last time out as they travelled to a below-par Grimsby Town. The 0-1 victory was secured midway through the first half when on-loan defender Tom Naylor headed into his own net. The 21-year old also had the best chance to equalise for the hosts but chipped his effort wide. Following this victory, Cambridge move up to ninth place in the league with 52 points.
Saturday saw the best twenty nine minutes the Fleet will have in a game for some time! Goals from Liam Bellamy, Stefan Payne, Nathan Elder and Matt Godden gave the the hosts a 4-0 lead before the half hour mark. The Fleet also had another goal ruled out in a first half that saw an immense showing in front of goal. The second half, as you'd expect, the Fleet took their foot off the gas a little and Chris Almond scored a consolation goal just after the interval. Influential winger Shaun Whalley deserved a goal towards the end of the game when his vicious thirty-yard effort struck the underside of the bar. The Fleet remain in 23rd place but have cut the gap to five points now.
INVOLVED WITH BOTH:
One man who has been involved with both sides is considered a 'club legend' on both sides. Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish has been involved with the Kent outfit since 2005, helping them to their highest ever League finish in 2006/07 (7th in the Conference Premier). The club have also won the FA Trophy final at Wembley, beating Torquay 1-0. Despite the club being relegated with him in charge in 2010, he helped them back up at the first attempt. Daish's links with Cambridge go back to 1988 when he joined them. In the six years he spent there, he clocked up over 100 games for the club helping them to achieve promotion from the old fourth division (now League Two) and the third division (now League One). Still highly thought of by the U's fans, he'll be hoping he can get the edge over his old club for only the third time in his eight year tenure.
KEY PLAYERS:
Cambridge look to striker Tom Elliott to win them this game. The striker has thirteen goals to his name this season including a hattrick at Stonebridge Road earlier in the season. Strong and pacy, the striker will be hoping to add to his tally against the side with the worst defensive record. Despite clubs coming in for him in January, the club held firm and last week Elliott signed a new deal with the U's, much to the delight of their fans. Another stand out player for the U's is central defender Charlie Wassmer. The youngster was part of Crawley's Blue Square Bet Premier and League Two title winning sides and has slotted in well since signing for the U's in January. He'll be hoping to keep up the good performances as the season draws to a close.
The Fleet look to Nathan Elder for goals. The number nine has begun scoring goals again and will look to keep this up as the Fleet look to boost their survival hopes further with a win. The striker has hit 15 League goals this season and has a real chance of getting to 20 before the season finishes. He's been tough to handle for most defenders this season. The Fleet will be hoping shot stopper Preston Edwards is on form too. He's been vital all season and no doubt Cambridge will look to put away the chances they create. Edwards will need the help of his defenders too.
TEAM NEWS:
Billy Gibson (groin) and Sam Smith (broken hand) are long term absentees for the U's. 'Keeper Nick Pope (on loan from Charlton) will look to continue his good form that has seen him keep two clean sheets in his previous two matches. Cambridge have recently signed Johnny Gorman on loan from Wolves, the winger was an unused substitute in the U's previous game and will look to get some game time as soon as possible. An interesting fact about the youngster - since turning professional in 2011, he has played more international games for his country (ten appearances for Northern Ireland) than he has for all three of the club's he's played for. He's made four appearances at Wolves, Plymouth and Macclesfield. One player who won't be involved is former Fleet striker Michael Gash, as he's been on loan at title chasing Kidderminster Harriers for the past few weeks.
The Fleet have an almost full squad to choose from. Joe Howe, Neil Barrett and Stefan Payne have recently returned to the squad, leaving just full back Craig Stone and long-term absentee Moses Ashikodi missing from the squad - the latter is back in training. Youngster Tobi Alabi has returned to Millwall early from his loan spell and is going to pursue an opprtunity to play in Sweden.
CAMBRIDGE'S LAST SIX MATCHES (WWLDLL):
Grimsby Town 0-1 Cambridge United
Cambridge United 1-0 Woking
Southport 2-1 Cambridge United
Cambridge United 0-0 Forest Green Rovers
Tamworth 1-2 Cambridge United
Cambridge United 1-3 Hereford United
EBBSFLEET'S LAST SIX MATCHES (WLDLLL):
Ebbsfleet United 4-1 Southport
Alfreton Town 3-0 Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Newport County
Wrexham 4-1 Ebbsfleet United
Kidderminster Harriers 3-2 Ebbsfleet United
Grimsby Town 3-1 Ebbsfleet United
PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Cambridge have always had the upper hand over the Fleet, this is probably the best chance the Fleet will have to grab a victory at the Abbey.
04.12.12. Ebbsfleet United 2-4 Cambridge United
06.12.11. Ebbsfleet United 0-0 Cambridge United
20.09.11. Cambridge United 2-0 Ebbsfleet United
10.10.09. Cambridge United 4-0 Ebbsfleet United
11.08.09. Ebbsfleet United 1-3 Cambridge United
LAST TIME OUT:
Ebbsfleet United 2-4 Cambridge United.
A hattrick from Tom Elliott gave the U's all three points on a cold evening at Stonebridge Road. Cambridge, who were below Ebbsfleet before the match, scored in the opening minute as a long ball over the top caught the Fleet defence knapping, allowing Elliott to hit home from the edge of the area. Goals from Matt Godden and Liam Enver-Marum put the hosts ahead but the U's struck back with Sam Smith and Elliott putting them ahead before Elliott rounded off the finishing 14 minutes from time. The visitors had striker Andy Pugh sent off but managed to hold out to leapfrog Ebbsfleet in the table.
Attendance: 842.
HOW THE BOOKIES SEE IT:
William Hill have Cambridge to win at 4/6 with the Fleet coming in at 3/1. A draw for this match sees odds of 13/5.
Bet Victor have Cambridge favourites to win too with odds of 7/10 and the Fleet at 17/4. A draw sees odds of 3/1. If you fancy Cambridge to grab a 3-1 win you will get odds of 14/1.
Ladbrokes have Cambridge favourites at 4/7 with the Fleet at 7/2. A draw for this match sees odds of 11/4. If you fancy the Fleet to pick up a shot 0-2 win then you will get odds of 20/1.
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