There hasn't been a game this season where we've been able to sit back and relax, says Steve Brown

EBBSFLEET UNITED manager Steve Brown says Basingstoke Town have to do something special to beat them on Saturday.



The Hampshire outfit arrive at Stonebridge Road sitting in fourth-place in The Skrill South table with 25 points from 14 games, eight points adrift of leaders Eastleigh.

Ebbsfleet United are presently in eighth-place in the table, with 21 points from fourteen games.

The Fleet joined Bromley, Whitstable Town, Dartford or Dover Athletic in the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com after coming away from Tunbridge Wells with a 3-1 win on Tuesday night.

Aiden Palmer, Alex Osborne and Billy Bricknell gave The Fleet a 3-0 lead over Martin Larkin’s side at Culverden Stadium, before the Southern Counties East Football League leaders pulled a goal back through Carl Cornell.

Dartford lock horns with Dover Athletic in the last remaining semi-final at Princes Park next Tuesday night, whilst Ebbsfleet United travel to Woking to play Hayes & Yeading United in the Conference South.

Ebbsfleet United will welcome Gloucester City to Stonebridge Road in The FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round on 30 November after their 4-1 home win over Bromley last weekend.

As part of the club’s drive to encourage crowds back to watch The Fleet’s push towards the top spots in the league, adult prices on Saturday will be reduced to £5, concessions only £3 and juniors just £1 – not forgetting that all as at every home match all under 12’s get free admission.

“It’s Fleet for a Fiver so we’re expecting a bit more of a crowd, another good crowd,” said Brown.

“Last time we had a big crowd here for the Dartford game it was a really, really cracking cup tie.

“I’m expecting us to be on the front foot for that. I sit in that dressing room, there’s a belief in there, there’s a unity, there’s a togetherness and a work ethic so any team that comes here have to do something to beat us.”

Victory on Saturday will see the Kent club move to within a point of Basingstoke Town.

“They’re all big games if I’m honest.  There hasn’t been a game this season where we’ve been able to sit back and relax,” said Brown.

“Whatever stage of the season, Maidenhead came here, top six, Bath came here, top six. Eastbourne came here, top six. Eastleigh, top, Bromley second.

“We’ve had this run of never ending teams that are in sixth.

“We’ve got Hayes & Yeading next Tuesday, they’re in the top six now. It’s a nightmare!

“Every game we play, you know there’s not too many easy games in this league.  I’ve got to be honest, every week you go out you have to earn the right to control the game and get a victory.”

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

Ebbsfleet United  v  Basingstoke Town
The Skrill South
Saturday 23^rd November 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9GN