Saturday is derby day at Stonebridge Road as Ebbsfleet United entertain Welling United.
After a mixed start to the season, Ebbsfleet have found a rhythm and have won every league and cup game that they have played since 11th September apart from their one-nil defeat at EFL club Leyton Orient in the first round of the F.A. Cup.
Visitors Welling United are in the congested mid-table area of the National League South but are rebuilding after a poor start and have won four and drawn one of their last seven games.
Dennis Kutrieb’s Fleet team won four-three at Hungerford Town last Saturday. Rakish Bingham opened the scoring early on but an equaliser mid-way through the first half meant that they went into the half time break level.
Goals from Sefa Kahraman, Dominic Polson and Alfie Egan appeared to have put the game to bed but two goals in three minutes gave them a nervy finish.
Meanwhile, Welling were defeating another Kent side, Tonbridge Angels, one-nil at Park View Road. Bradley Stevenson scored the only goal in the first half and, although the visitors had plenty of possession in the second period, the Welling defence and goalkeeper Jack Sims held them off.
Guessing Ebbsfleet’s starting line-up is not straight forward as Kutrieb has rung the changes. Only Greg Cundle is a league and cup ever present although Joe Martin is yet to miss a league game.
Things have not been as easy for Welling manager Pater Taylor. He is still refining his team since taking over from Steve Lovell and there may be more squad movement before Saturday’s game. His case has not been helped by injuries with Tom Smith and James Matthews out long term, Teddy Perkins out for a few more weeks and Dipo Akinyemi, Joe Muscatt and Danny Parish who are unlikely to be available this weekend.
However, when the two teams take to the pitch on Saturday, it will be eleven versus eleven and derby games don’t always go to form..
Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.