Basingstoke Town v Ebbsfleet United

The Fleet will look to record their second win of the season as they travel to Hampshire to face Basingstoke Town, who are unbeaten at home so far this campaign.

Let's take a look at our hosts...

Basingstoke Town FC

Founded – 1896

Nickname – The 'Stoke

Ground – The Camrose

Manager – Jason Bristow

Last season's finish - 14^th

Current position - 4th

• Basingstoke were founded in 1896 after a merger between Aldworth United and Basingstoke Albion.
• Won the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time and reached the Southern League structure at the end of the 1970/71 season, and followed it up the following season with their first appearance in the FA Cup first round proper; a 5-1 loss at home to Northampton Town, watched by 3,400 spectators, the record at the time.
• Switched to the Isthmian League in 1988
• Reached the FA Cup second round in 1989/90, losing 3-2 at home to Torquay United.
• Gained promotion to the newly structured Conference South in 2003/04, due to Hendon opting out of joining the Division.
• Local businessman Rafi Razzak became chairman of the Club in 2008. Razzak was owner of local IT company Centerprise International.
• Finished in the play-offs in 2011/12, losing to Dartford in the Semi Final.
• The 'Stoke have won the Hampshire Senior Cup five times in their History, with the latest coming in 2008.
• Highest attendance at the Camrose is 5,085 for an FA Cup first round match with Wycombe Wanderers in 1997. The highest League attendance at the Camrose is 2,810, a match against Aldershot Town getting the bumper crowd on Boxing Day of 1998.

Did you know?

Basingstoke Town's Club motto is 'Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum', which means 'No stepping back'.

The Squad

Goalkeepers – Louis Wells, Joe McDonnell

Defenders – Ross Adams, Jay Gasson, Adam Green, Kieran Maylen, Chris Paterson, David Ray, Robbie Rice, Nathan Smart

Midfielders – Neil Barrett, Nathan Campbell, Alex Charlick, Wes Daly, Simon Dunn, Shaun McAuley

Attackers – Kezie Ibe, Robbie Matthews, Jordace Holder-Spooner, Manny Williams

Last five matches

Basingstoke's last five matches include three home matches, which have produced three wins. The 'Stoke lost both of their away matches in this period, but they're certainly not a side that the Fleet, or anybody, should be underestimating.

Whitehawk 1-0 Basingstoke Town

Basingstoke Town 2-1 Staines Town

Weston Super-Mare 1-0 Basingstoke Town

Basingstoke Town 2-0 Eastleigh

Basingstoke Town 2-1 Concord Rangers

LWLWW

Scored: 6

Conceded: 4

Key players

Look no further than Neil Barrett. As mentioned in a previous piece, I felt the midfielder still had something to offer at Conference Premier level, so to drop down to the South really shocked me. He's grabbed his first goal in 'Stoke colours, and will have something to prove to Fleet manager Steve Brown, who chose not to retain him at the start of the season. Former Dartford and Staines Town goalkeeper Louis Wells will need to be on form against a frustrated Fleet attack, who have been a little shy in front of goal at the start of the season. It's surely only a matter of time before it all 'clicks'...

Team news

Manager Jason Bristow should have a near full squad to choose from.

Last time out

Whitehawk 1-0 Basingstoke

A first half goal from defender Sami El-Abd was enough to give the Hawks all three points in Sussex.

The goal came midway through the first half when El-Abd got on the end of a Tommy Fraser free-kick.

Although the 'Stoke were the better side in the second half, they failed to break down a stubborn Whitehawk defence and suffered their second loss of the season.

Attendance: 334

Now let's take a look at the Fleet...

The Squad

Goalkeepers – Preston Edwards, Brandon Hall,

Defenders – Joe Howe, Osei Sankofa, Aiden Palmer, Paul Lorraine, Shane Huke

Midfielders – Anthony Cook, Dominic Green, Tom Phipp, Cesc Fakinos, Stacy Long, Michael Corcoran, Dean Rance, Daryl McMahon, Chris Sessegnon (on loan at Cray Wanderers)

Strikers – Billy Bricknell, Ben May, Alex Osborn (on loan from Dagenham), Michael Thalassitis (on loan from Stevenage)

Last five matches

The Fleet have been quite disappointing so far this season, and will need to up their game if the play-offs are the aim for this season. The last five games have produced just one win, with one loss and three draws. In this period, the Fleet also recorded a victory in Round One of the Kent Senior Cup, beating Tonbridge Angels 3-0. They face Sittingbourne away in Round Two.

Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Bath City

Dorchester Town 1-3 Ebbsfleet United

Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Maidenhead United

Eastbourne Borough 1-1 Ebbsfleet United

Dover Athletic 2-1 Ebbsfleet United

DWDDL

Scored: 7

Conceded: 6

Key players

In a squad that hasn't shown much urgency so far this season, Anthony Cook and Billy Bricknell have been the two who are holding it up for the Fleet. The latter appears to have got over his back troubles that kept him out of the first game of the season, and with two goals to his name already he'll be looking to add to that tally as soon as possible, as the Fleet look to rise up the League. Cook has been in excellent form for the Fleet so far, putting in maximum effort in every game and producing a couple of stunning goals.

Team news

Injury prone striker Ben May could be missing from the squad again, but Michael Thalassitis looks set to return after missing the uninspiring draw against Bath due to International duty. The striker played for Cyprus U21s in their matches with Italy and Serbia.

Last time out

Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Bath City.

It was the same old story for the Fleet at Stonebridge Road. After a dominant first half only produced one goal, former Fleet defender Will Salmon scored a second half equaliser as the Fleet recorded their fourth draw in six games.

Daryl McMahon's floated free kick found Shane Huke unmarked in the box as he rose to head home. It was no more than the Fleet deserved but once again, they failed to make the pressure count as they went into the break with a slender one goal advantage.

The second half was uninspiring from both sides, but it was the visitors who scored as the Fleet's failure to defend set pieces properly cost them. The ball fell to Salmon six yards out, who made no mistake as he gave Bath a share of the points.

Attendance: 850.

Previous matches

The Fleet first met Basingstoke Town competitively in 1972, and suffered a 1-0 loss away from home. The Fleet's highest victory against Basingstoke came in 2001, as they ran out 4-1 winners. Basingstoke's biggest victory against the Fleet came in the previous season, as they won 4-0.

The two Clubs have only played each other 20 times in competitive action, and the Fleet lead the head-to-head.

Fleet wins: 9

Basingstoke wins: 7

Draws: 4

Last five meetings

Basingstoke Town 1-2 Ebbsfleet United – Blue Square Bet South – 02.04.11

Ebbsfleet United 3-1 Basingstoke Town – Blue Square Bet South – 19.02.11

Gravesend and Northfleet 0-0 Basingstoke Town – Ryman League Premier – 06.04.02

Basingstoke Town 1-4 Gravesend and Northfleet – Ryman League Premier – 13.11.01

Basingstoke Town 4-0 Gravesend and Northfleet – Ryman League Premier – 05.05.01

If you are able to make the match at the Camrose, admission prices are as follows:

Adults: £12

Concessions: £8

Under 16s: £4

Under 11s: £2

Concessions include Over 60s, Students, Disabled, Unemployed, Active Servicemen and all Emergency Services with valid ID. It also applies to Season Ticket holders of Football-League and Premier League Clubs, on production of a valid Season Ticket.

If you are unable to make the match, then follow @EUFCOfficial, @Basingstoke_FC or @JoeGlidewell for match updates and post-match reaction.

Enjoy the game!