Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers

WOKING v EBBSFLEET UNITED

Tom Barnardo
12:00am, Fri 24th Oct 2008

Saturday 25^th October 2008

Woking vs. Ebbsfleet United

The FA Cup, 4^th Qualifying Round

Kingfield, Kick-Off: 3pm

Come on down to Kingfield on Saturday for this exciting FA Cup tie!

INTRODUCING EBBSFLEET UNITED

Since February 2008, Ebbsfleet United has been owned by the web-based venture MyFootballClub, whose members may vote on team selection and player transfers, instead of those decisions being made exclusively by the club's management and staff as at most other clubs. Liam Daish?s club from Stonebridge Road have made a fairly good fist of it last season though, winning the FA Trophy and only just falling short of the Blue Square Premier play-offs last season.

There is slightly more at stake on Saturday, though. Both clubs are just one game away from the First Found proper of the FA Cup and a glory tie against Leicester City, Leeds United or MK Dons. Alternatively, both clubs are three games away from the Third Round Proper of the FA Cup and a trip to see one of the game?s billionaires at Stamford Bridge, the City of Manchester Stadium, The Emirates or even Old Trafford. However, for one of these two clubs on Saturday, the dream could be over for another year.

Nor is the prize money for Saturday?s game to be sneezed at, with the winners pocketing ?12,500.

WHO WE?RE UP AGAINST

Liam Daish?s team have been on a terrible run of form lately, picking up just three points from their last five matches. With Lance Cronin almost an ever-present in The Fleet?s goal this season, their defence is anchored by Darius Charles. Making over 40 appearances for Brentford in The League, Darius signed on loan for The Fleet in March 2008 and, after impressing in the nine games he played, Liam Daish made a move to sign him in the close season, striking a deal for a season-long loan with Brentford in June 2008.

Ex-Card Neil Barrett is pivotal in the Ebbsfleet midfield and has experience playing in both the Portsmouth (23 times) and Dundee United (40 times) first teams since 2001. Along with 23 year-old winger Stacy Long, Ebbsfleet will look to utilise Barrett?s skill to try and penetrate the Woking defence. Up front, Michael Gash and Luke Moore tend to start for The Fleet following the sale of John Akinde to Bristol City.

WOKING TEAM NEWS

Woking have been told by Millwall that on-loan goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley isn?t available for FA Cup selection but Phil Gilchrist has brought in Carl Pentney from Leicester City on loan. Carl will presumably start, with Ross Worner on the bench. Tom Hutchinson returns from suspension, so is likely to start in the centre of defence alongside the star of recent weeks, Paul Lorraine. Bradley Quamina is also available for selection following his sending-off against York a fortnight ago. Danny Bunce, injured in training before the Grays match, is expected to be fit but Goma Lambu, another absentee last Saturday, is unlikely to be available. With Paolo Vernazza and Abdou El Kholti making trouble-free returns at Grays from long lay-offs, Phil Gilchrist should be able to pick from a full squad

LAST TIME ROUND

Ebbsfleet 2-0 Woking (20^th September 2008)

This was always going to be a tough trip for the Cards. Woking had never won at Stonebridge Road in the league and the Fleet were unbeaten at home this season. A very solid defensive display in the first half encouraged hopes that we might get a point but it all went wrong in one minute?s lack of concentration in the second half, when we shipped two goals, and our inability to create chances or put them away meant that we never looked like recovering from that scoreline.

Suddenly, Woking?s hitherto sound defence cracked. A back-header from Tom Hutchinson fell between the back three and Lenny, and Kwesi Appiah, who?d barely been on the pitch for a minute, nipped in and looped a header over the keeper to give the Fleet a 1-0 lead. No sooner had the game started than it was 2-0. A swift attack down the Woking left saw the ball centred and ex-Card Neil Barrett slid in to finish cleanly past Pidgeley.

This result kept Woking firmly in the bottom four and sent the large travelling Woking contingent home very disappointed after Phil Gilchrist?s third game in temporary charge.

Woking: Lenny Pidgeley, Paul Lorraine, Tom Hutchinson, Colin Miles, Goma Lambu, Liam Marum (Sam-Yorke), Giuseppe Sole, Danny Bunce (Patrice Konan), Joel Ledgister (Manny Williams) Wilfried Domoraud.

LAST TIME OUT

Ebbsfleet 0-2 Torquay (18^th October 2008)

Ebbsfleet?s pitiful run of form continued as Torquay took advantage of The Fleet?s confidence deficit to continue their surge up the table. However, in the first half, Ebbsfleet enjoyed more of the possession with both sides squandering chances to take the lead.

The visitors broke the deadlock when Tyrone Thompson crossed for Nicky Wroe, who saw his initial shot rebound off the post, but smashed in the rebound.

Wayne Carlisle made it two after 54 minutes when he latched onto the end of another Thompson cross to coolly place the ball beyond Lance Cronin.

Ebbsfleet United: Cronin, Charles, McCarthy, Pooley, Opinel, Shakes (Bowes 46), Hand (Stone 61), Barrett, Long, Gash, Moore.

FORM GUIDE (last five games)

Woking: WWDLD (8/15 points)

Histon: 1-0 WON

Mansfield: 1-0 WON

Weymouth: 1-1 DREW

York: 0-2 LOST

Grays: 1-1 DREW

Ebbsfleet United: WLLLL (3/15 points)

Salisbury: 3-0 WON

Altrincham: 0-2 LOST