Ebbsfleet United v Chelmsford City.

Ebbsfleet United welcome old friends Chelmsford City to Stonebridge Road this Tuesday evening, still looking for their first home win of the season. The Clarets are searching for their first away victory of the season.

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

Chelmsford City FC

Founded – 1878

Nickname – The Clarets

Ground – Melbourne Park

Manager – Dean Holdsworth

Captain – Mark Hughes

Last season's finish - 5^th

Current position – 20^th

• Chelmsford FC were founded in 1878 by members of the Chelmsford Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The reason for the Club being established was to give the players something to do during the winter.
• Won the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in 1892/93
• Became founder members of the North Essex League in 1895, but left five years later to join the South Essex League.
• The Club was closed down in 1938 and reformed as Chelmsford City FC, in order to become professional and join the Southern League. They took over Chelmsford's New Writtle Street ground.
• In their very first season as Chelmsford City, they reached the Fourth round of the FA Cup, losing 6-0 to Birmingham City after beating Kidderminster Harriers, Darlington and Southampton in the first three 'proper' rounds. They scored 11 goals in those opening rounds, conceding just two. They applied to join the Football-League at the end of that season, but only received one vote.
• The Clarets transferred to the Isthmian Division in 2004 and gained promotion to the Conference South in the 2007/08 season.
• Chelmsford reached the FA Cup second round three seasons in a row from 2010, and have lost in four play-off semi finals in five seasons.

Did you know? Despite being called Chelmsford City since 1938, Chelmsford itself didn't gain City status until 2012.

The Squad

Goalkeepers – Carl Pentney, Tommy Forecast.

Defenders – Mark Haines, Jide Maduako, Ben Sampayo, Nicky Nicolau, Leon Redwood, Danny Webb.

Midfielders – Tom Davis, Nathan Ferguson, Bagasan Graham, Mark Hughes ©, Sam Long, Jack Paxman, Dave Rainford, Christian Smith, Charlie Henry.

Attackers – Jeff Goulding, Bertie Brayley, Tom Derry, Rob Edmans, Kieran St Amie, Joe Ward.

Last five matches

Chelmsford, like the Fleet, have had a poor start to the season picking up just four points in their opening six matches.

Chelmsford City 0-2 Whitehawk – 14.09.13

Hayes and Yeading 4-0 Chelmsford City – 07.09.13

Chelmsford City 1-2 Weston Super-Mare – 31.08.13

Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Chelmsford City – 26.08.13

Chelmsford City 3-2 Staines Town – 24.08.13

LLLLW

Scored: 5

Conceded: 12

Last time out

Chelmsford City 0-2 Whitehawk.

The Clarets slumped to their fourth defeat in a row as they lost to new boys Whitehawk.

Both sides created chances, but the first goal of the game didn't come until the 35^th minute when Tommy Fraser's cross from the left was met by former Hayes defender Tom Cadmore, who made no mistake as he steered his header into the goal.

Former Clarets defender Sami El-Abd almost made it two with a header from close range, but former Fleet striker Jacob Erskine did secure the points with 11 minutes left on the clock. After beating the offside trap, he slid the ball under Tommy Forecast in the Clarets goal for his first of the season.

The defeat left Chelmsford in 20^th place in the Division, while the Hawks moved up to 13^th.

Attendance: 587

Key player

Jeff Goulding is key for the Clarets. The former Aldershot striker has hit three goals so far and will be looking to add to that as soon as possible. The Clarets are desperate for a win, and Goulding could be the man to bring them that.

Team news

Defender Mark Haines is said to have been struggling with his groin this week, so could miss the trip to Stonebridge Road. New signings Jide Maduako and Charlie Henry are in contention to make his debut for the Clarets while Jeff Goulding plays his last match before serving a one game suspension.

Now let's look at the Fleet...

The Squad

Chelmsford fans will be well aware of a few of the Fleet players, including former players Aiden Palmer, Anthony Cook and Billy Bricknell.

Goalkeepers – Preston Edwards, Brandon Hall.

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

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

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

Last five matches

The Fleet are the Skrill South draw specialists so far, with five draws in their opening seven matches. Their one win came at bottom Club Dorchester Town. Can they record their first home win of the season and start a winning run?

Basingstoke Town 2-2 Ebbsfleet United – 14.09.13

Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Bath City – 07.09.13

Dorchester Town 1-3 Ebbsfleet United – 31.08.13

Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Maidenhead United – 26.08.13

Eastbourne Borough 1-1 Ebbsfleet United – 24.08.13

DDWDD

Scored: 8

Conceded: 6

Last time out

Basingstoke Town 2-2 Ebbsfleet United.

Shane Huke's second goal in two games rescued a point for the Fleet with pretty much the last kick of the match at the Camrose.

The Fleet took the lead in the third minute when Dean Rance's audacious effort from thirty yards caught Louis Wells off guard. The keeper got a touch, but couldn't keep it out. The former Staines Town shot stopper made a couple of fine saves in the first half to keep the score down, and the 'Stoke outfield took full advantage.

Manny Williams' nicely placed effort from around twelve yards out was put out of the reach of Preston Edwards and into the bottom corner. The sides went in level despite the Fleet's dominance.

The Fleet had been slow starters in the second half of matches this season, but this match was different. The boys in white came out all guns blazing and it took some brilliant stops from Wells to keep the scores level. Once again, the hosts took full advantage.

Wes Daly's corner was met by the head of former Fleet fan favourite Neil Barrett, who guided the ball past Preston Edwards in the Fleet goal.

It looked as though Barrett had got one over on his former team and given Basingstoke yet another home win until Huke stepped forward in the 94^th minute. The central defender put Wells under immense pressure from a high ball in and he eventually bundled the ball home. The home players were furious as they thought Wells was fouled, but the goal stood, much to the delight of the visiting supporters.

The point left the Fleet in 15^th place in the Division while Basingstoke stayed within the play-off positions.

Attendance: 371.

Key player

Anthony Cook. The influential winger has been in fine form for the Fleet so far this season and playing his former Club should really spur him on. He's shown excellent ability so far in both crossing and shooting, and his passion on the pitch is second to none. A really vital player for the Fleet.

Team news

The Fleet look set to be without Ben May again. The former Dover striker has been struggling all season and most of pre-season with a back injury. Michael Corcoran limped off against Basingstoke, and it is unknown whether he will be in the squad. Other than that, Steve Brown should have a near full squad to choose from.

Previous matches

Ebbsfleet/Gravesend and Chelmsford go back a very long way, with the first competitive meeting between the sides coming in the Southern League way back in September 1946. Chelmsford ran out 3-2 winners at Stonebridge Road. The Fleet's biggest victory against the Clarets came back in 1955; a 5-0 victory at Stonebridge Road, however Chelmsford trump that as they recorded a 7-1 victory against the Fleet in 1960. The two have thrown up some cracking matches in recent seasons.

The two Clubs have met 77 times competitively, and the head-to-head is tied.

Fleet wins: 31

Chelmsford wins: 31

Draws: 15

Last five meetings

Ebbsfleet United 2-1 Chelmsford City – Blue Square Bet South - play-offs - SF - 2^nd leg – 08.05.11

Chelmsford City 1-4 Ebbsfleet United – Blue Square Bet South – play-offs – SF- 1^st leg – 03.05.11

Ebbsfleet United 1-3 Chelmsford City – Blue Square Bet South – 22.04.11

Chelmsford City 2-3 Ebbsfleet United – Blue Square Bet South – 26.02.11

Chelmsford City 1-0 Gravesend and Northfleet – FA Cup – 28.10.06

Memory match

Don't worry Fleet fans, it's not all doom and gloom... Here's a little look back at THAT night in Chelmsford in 2011.

Chelmsford City 1-4 Ebbsfleet United.

It was a long season full of good, bad, and completely out of the blue moments. A comeback 3-2 victory at Chelmsford from 2-0 down, a dire 2-1 loss at home to Bromley, and Preston Edwards record nine second sending off at home to Farnborough, just to name a few.

The play-offs had arrived and there was room for optimism from both sides. Both had worked incredibly hard throughout the season and now one of them were to get a chance to be rewarded for it. 2 matches, 180 minutes.

The Fleet's play-off campaign was some of the best football I have seen in my short time watching the Club; Absolutely outstanding. The attacking intent shown from start to finish, was nothing short of remarkable.

Most would have taken a draw at Melbourne Park to take back to Stonebridge Road but from the start, it always looked likely that the Fleet would walk away with a win. Ricky Shakes, Calum Willock and Tom Phipp all went close in the opening stages of the match, and the Fleet got their reward on 21 minutes.

Willock brilliantly held the ball up, giving Michael West time to make his run into the box. The young midfielder made no mistake from Willock's lay-off, as he controlled the ball and struck it past Carl Pentney in the Clarets goal. Four minutes later, 'Westy' doubled his, and the Fleet's tally.

Shakes put in a brilliant ball from the right, and West hit the ball past Pentney once more. The Fleet were in control of the game, and should have had a man advantage at the 40 minute mark. Last man Sami El-Abd fouled Willock in the box, clearly stopping a goalscoring opportunity, and the linesman flagged for the foul, although the ref ignored it and play continued. The hosts took advantage of that and pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time as Ricky Modeste's header beat Daren Hawkes in the Fleet goal.

The Clarets came out firing in the second half but a brilliant (nervy!) defensive performance kept them at bay allowing the Fleet's attack to finish the game off.

Derek Duncan's teasing ball in from the left was met down low by Shakes, who guided his header past the keeper and the winger was at it again two minutes from time. Through on goal with just the keeper to beat, he confidently struck past Pentney, sending the travelling fans behind the goal absolutely crazy.

If it wasn't for Pentney in the second half, the Fleet's lead would have been quite a bit bigger! 4-1 was sufficient though, as the Fleet finished off the tie at Stonebridge Road to take a 6-1 aggregate victory and set up a final with Farnborough, who beat Woking. With 2,158 Fleet fans at Farnborough's Rushmoor Stadium, it was a fine occasion as the Fleet ran out 4-2 winners.

How the bookies see it

Ladbrokes have the Fleet at 17/20 favourites with the Clarets at 27/10. A draw for this game sees odds of 5/2. The Fleet's favourite score so far (1-1) sees odds of 6/1.

Bet Victor have the Fleet favourites at 10/11 with the visitors at an impressive 3/1. Odds for a draw are 5/2. If you fancy the Clarets to grab a sneaky 1-0 win then the odds for that are 12/1.

If you're able to make the match, admission prices are as follows:

Adults - £10

Concessions (Students, OAPs) - £8

Under 16s - £5

Under 12s – FREE with a paying adult.

If you're unable to attend the game, then follow @EUFCOfficial, @OfficialClarets, or @JoeGlidewell for match updates and post-match reaction.

Enjoy the game.

Up the Fleet!