We’re not going to sit-back to protect our two-goal lead, says McPhee
CHRIS McPHEE knows what to expect when Ebbsfleet United play at the Recreation Ground in Aldershot on Saturday with so much at stake, writes Stephen McCartney.
McPhee, who scored two first half penalties as Fleet beat Aldershot Town 3-1 in last Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy Semi-Final first leg, played for the Shots whilst on loan in 2005.
The north Kent side bombarded the Shots goal during the first half last weekend and deserved to go in at the break two goals to nil up.
But with the Hampshire side desperate to claw back their two-goal deficit, the Fleet know the Blue Square Premier leaders will go hell for leather in a bid to get score the goals to get them to Wembley Stadium.
“We’ve played really well, we deserved to get ahead and we’ve got something to go there,” McPhee told www.kentishfootball.co.uk last weekend.
“We’re not going to protect it, we want to go and score a goal there, really put them under a bit of pressure but we know if we don’t get beat, we’re at Wembley.
“I mean you can’t get no better than that. If you’re going into a second leg of a semi-final knowing if we don’t get beat we’re in, we’re in there.”
Having experienced the hostile atmosphere at the Recreation Ground for himself, playing for the Hampshire side in 2005, McPhee knows the home fans will play their part to see the Shots through.
“We’ve got a game plan and we’ll go through it this week and we’ll be confident when we go out there,” he said.
“I was on loan at Aldershot a couple of seasons back for two months and I know exactly what hostile atmosphere it is.
“We’ve played there already this season and we’re confident that we can go there and get the right result to get us through to Wembley.”
In the other semi-final, Torquay United travel to York City with a 2-0 lead from their first-leg clash.
Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk
Aldershot Town v Ebbsfleet United
FA Carlsberg Trophy Semi-Final Second Leg
Saturday 15th March 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Recreation Ground, High Street, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 1TW