Fleet's March to the Wembley Arch: We must make our home advantage count, says Daish

LIAM DAISH is confident that his side can join Aldershot Town, Torquay United and York City - all towns that have staged League football - in the semi-finals of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ebbsfleet United hold the advantage of winning their quarter-final replay against Burton Albion on the pristine pitch at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night after earning a goal-less draw at the Pirelli Stadium yesterday.

“We worked very hard, it was a proper Cup tie, chances both ends but we had a real go at it, some good performances, made life difficult for ourselves but that wasn’t down to lack of effort,” Daish told BBC Radio Kent.

But Daish wants his side to finish off the job at Stonebridge Road to clinch a place in the two-legged semi-finals on the 8^th and 15^th March.

“We can keep the ball a little bit better, (at Burton there was) a difficult pitch so the pitch will be better down at Stonebridge Road,” he said.

“Saying that it will be good for them as well, all makes for a good tie. We’ve got home advantage now and we just want to make that count.”

But Daish is delighted that the Kent club are involved in tomorrow’s semi-final draw.

He said: “I’d rather have a draw than done and dusted with a loss so we’re still in the hat. It’s another game, it’s a big game, it’s not a minor game is it?

“It’s a big game and I’m sure all the players will be up for that (replay).

And defender Peter Hawkins, who was drafted into the side yesterday after recovering from a groin injury, calls upon the Fleet faithful to cheer the club into the last four for the very first time in the club’s history.

“We’re at home, we’re going to come out with all guns blazing and hopefully get the result,” he told BBC Radio Kent.

Reflecting on the draw in Staffordshire, he said: “We’ve come here as a team today, we’ve performed very well.

“They had a couple of chances and obviously we’ve had a couple as well so it could have gone either way but overall we’re pleased with the result.

“We’ve come here, it’s a hard place to come and we’ve got another game Tuesday against them. I don’t think they’ll fancy that so we’ve got to look forward to that.”

Hawkins hopes his team-mates can create more chances on home soil - the pitch at the Pirelli Stadium was of some concern to the Fleet camp.

“We didn’t create that many but we’ll go in (training) on Monday, work hard on that and hopefully create a few more on Tuesday.”

Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy Quarter-Final Results:

Tamworth 1-2 Aldershot Town
Rushden & Diamonds 0-1 York City
Torquay United 4-1 Crawley Town
Burton Albion 0-0 Ebbsfleet United

UPDATED 13:30 MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2008

FA Carlsberg Trophy Semi-Final Draw

First Legs - Saturday 8^th March 2008

Torquay United v York City

Burton Albion or Ebbsfleet United v Aldershot Town

Second Legs - Saturday 15^th March 2008

York City v Torquay United

Aldershot Town v Burton Albion or Ebbsfleet United


ADMISSION CHARGES FOR THE GAME

As it’s a Cup game season tickets are NOT valid.

£13 (adult)
£7 (senior citizens and under 16s - plus students on production of valid student card)

It costs an extra £2 to sit down

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website:  www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Quotes courtesy of BBC Radio Kent - 96.7FM or www.bbc.co.uk/kent

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering Tuesday night’s replay at Stonebridge Road.

Ebbsfleet United v Burton Albion
FA Carlsberg Trophy Quarter-Final Replay
Tuesday 26^th February 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9BA