Braintree Town v Ebbsfleet United

Braintree Town v Ebbsfleet United 

The Fleet go into Monday's Bank Holiday fixture looking to get all three points at Braintree Town.

Braintree Town FC
Founded - 1898 (Founded as 'Manor Works')
Nickname - The Iron
Ground - Amlin Stadium (Still known to most as Cressing Road)
Manager - Alan Devonshire
Captain - Kenny Davis
Top scorer - Sean Marks (11)


Braintree Town were founded in 1898 as Manor Works FC and have since had a few names including Crittall Athletic (1921), Braintree and Crittall Athletic (1968) and Braintree FC (1981) before adding the Town in 1983. Braintree have spent their entire life in non-league, competing in league's such as the North Essex League, Essex and Suffolk Border League, the Spartan League, the Isthmian League and many more! After two consecutive play-off losses the Iron were promoted to the Conference Premier for the first time in their history in the 2010-11 season. Their first season in the Conference Premier saw them finish in a respectable 12th positon, unfortunately for the Iron they weren't able to build on it this season and they find themselves just six points off relegation. The Iron are managed by former West Ham midfielder Alan Devonshire. Devonshire made over 300 appearances for the Hammers in a spell spanning fourteen years.

The hosts come into this match having won three of the seven matches in March, losing two and drawing two. The victories have all but secured safety for the Essex outfit as they sit on 52 points in the league. The visitors are on a terrible run of form at the moment with just one win in their previous eight matches, losing five of them and conceding eighteen goals in the process.

The Iron come into this match on the back of a 2-1 loss away at league leaders Kidderminster. Captain Kenny Davis put the visitors in the lead on the stroke of half-time when he headed home Dan Sparkes' corner. Kiddy came back into the game to continue their impressive run, which now stands at just two losses in seventeen matches. Anthony Malbon equalised on the hour mark and then just three minutes later a Dean Wells own goal gave the Harriers all three points. Braintree now sit 13th in the table on 52 points, six points ahead of the relegation zone.

The Fleet never looked like scoring in their last match, let alone winning! Forest Green were the visitors to Stonebridge Road and they ran out 0-2 winners with goals from top scorer James Norwood and debutant Reece Connolly. Norwood put the visitors ahead seven minutes before half-time when his shot went under Preston Edwards' arm. The keeper really should have saved it. Connolly, who came off the bench midway through the second half capitalised on a weak pass back when he rounded the keeper and slotted home from eight yards. The Fleet remain in 23rd place in the league but are now a massive eleven points adrift of safety.

KEY PLAYERS

If he plays, the Fleet will need to be wary of Sean Marks. The striker has been a regular goalscorer for the Iron over the past couple of seasons and will look to get on the scoresheet in this match. Captain Kenny Davis is an important player in the Braintree side. An influential midfielder who knows where the goal is are fairly hard to come by in the lower leagues, but Braintree seem to have found a gem there. He's their second top league goalscorer this season, and has already scored against the Fleet once this season.

The Fleet will look to on-loan striker Matt Godden. Scunthorpe are recalling him from his loan spell and the youngster will want to bow out in style as the Fleet try to escape the drop. Keeper Preston Edwards will need to be on form too. The young shot stopper prevented the margain being even bigger on Saturday and will look to continue his form going into an important run of games for the Fleet.

TEAM NEWS 

Striker Dan Holman has been missing for the past few matches, it is unknown whether he will be in the squad for the game. Fellow striker Ben Wright recently joined on loan from Forest Green, he played in the 2-1 loss against Kidderminster. Wright has scored four goals in his matches against the Fleet.

Defender Jack Saville was fit enough to take his place on the bench on Saturday, the Fleet will be hoping he is ready to take his place in the starting line up. There is still no news on whether Craig Stone is edging closer to fitness.

BRAINTREE'S LAST SIX MATCHES (LWLDDW):

Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 Braintree Town
Braintree Town 2-1 Alfreton Town
Braintree Town 0-3 Lincoln City
Braintree Town 2-2 Nuneaton Town
Braintree Town 1-1 Woking
Stockport County 1-3 Braintree Town

EBBSFLEET'S LAST SIX MATCHES (LDWLDL):

Ebbsfleet United 0-2 Forest Green Rovers
Cambridge United 1-1 Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United 4-1 Southport
Alfreton Town 3-0 Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Newport County
Wrexham 4-1 Ebbsfleet United

PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS: 

The Fleet lead the head-to-head against Braintree with eight wins from thirteen games, losing just two. However, the Iron have the edge over the past five matches.

14.08.2012. Ebbsfleet United 0-1 Braintree Town.
09.04.2012. Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Braintree Town.
29.08.2011. Braintree Town 2-3 Ebbsfleet United. 
03.01.2011. Braintree Town 4-2 Ebbsfleet United.
30.08.2010. Ebbsfleet United 0-0 Braintree Town.

MEMORY MATCH: 

Monday 29 August. Braintree Town 2-3 Ebbsfleet United. 

It looked as though Braintree were going to be walking away with three points until the 87th minute of the match, when the Fleet grabbed two goals in the last three minutes to win the match. Former Fleet trialist Jai Reason had put the hosts a goal up fifteen minutes into the match but Tom Phipp equalised in the 61st minute. The Fleet's joy was short lived as just eight minutes later Reason was there again to put the Iron ahead for the second time. Scott Ginty drilled home a penalty with three minutes to go. A draw would have been a fair result, but the Fleet had other ideas and in the last minute of the game Calum Willock was there to give the Fleet all three points.

Attendance: 810. 

LAST TIME OUT: 

Tuesday 14 August. Ebbsfleet United 0-1 Braintree Town. 

Kenny Davis scored the only goal of the game in what was a tight affair between the two sides. The Fleet had Patrick Ada sent off five minutes into the second half for a 'professional foul' - the red card was later overturned - and the Fleet were fighting a losing battle from then on. Davis scored with twenty minutes left - a fine curling effort from twenty five yards out. Braintree striker Sean Marks was sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence.

Attendance: 857.