Chelmsford City return to Vanarama National League South action when they take on fellow playoff dwellers Ebbsfleet United at the Kuflink Stadium on Tuesday, 17th January. (KO 7.45pm)
The opposition
Ebbsfleet currently occupy second place, having played 25 league games this season. They have won 17, drawn 3 and lost 5, whilst scoring 56 goals and conceding 28, which all adds up to 54 league points. A win by two goals or more would see the Fleet leapfrog local rivals Dartford into first place, and they would have still 2 games in hand over the Darts.
Ebbsfleet had a stunning start to the season, going until November 12th until they lost a game, losing 2-1 at home to Tonbridge Angels. Including that defeat they have lost 7 of their last 11 games, but have since steadied the ship with two consecutive wins in the last two league games.
In terms of players, Ebbsfleet have the experienced keeper Mark Cousins in between the sticks. Cousins was famously in goal for Colchester United when Chelmsford beat them in the FA Cup in 2012. As well as playing for the U’s, Cousins, now 36, appeared for Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet and Bromley, before signing for the Fleet in the summer.
In defence, they have experienced former Charlton defender Chris Solly, as well as ex-Notts County & Chesterfield centre-back Haydn Hollis. They also have former Wycombe and Cheltenham defender Sido Jombati.
In midfield, they have former Aldershot midfielder Toby Edser, who signed last summer and can add goals from the centre of the pitch. They also have former Dulwich midfielder Ben Chapman, who is a key component of Ebbsfleet’s style of play. In wide areas, they have former Gillingham and Billericay winger Greg Cundle as well as speedy former Kidderminster winger Omari Sterling-James.
Up front, they have the prolific strike force of Dominic Poleon and Rakish Bingham who have 26 league goals between them so far. Poleon, the former Leeds, Wimbledon and Crawley striker, has 17 of them, the same number as he managed in the whole of last season. Bingham, the former Hamilton and Hartlepool striker has the other nine, and he scored the winner at Dover on Saturday via a late penalty.
The manager in the dugout is Dennis Kutrieb. A rarity in non-league football, with him being a foreign manager, the German managed VSG Altglienicke and Tebe Berlin in his homeland and is now in his 3rd season with the Fleet, having led them to the playoff final last season, where they narrowly lost out to eventual winners Dorking Wanderers in extra time.
Previous Meetings
Chelmsford last met Ebbsfleet on the last game of the 2021/22 season, when the Clarets went down 2-1 in a defeat that summed up a lot of City’s games that season.
Goals from Sido Jombati and Rakish Bingham put the Fleet two-nil up in the second-half, before former Claret Charlie Sheringham scored a late consolation for City.
Chelmsford have lost their last 4 away games at Ebbsfleet and our last victory there was in an FA Cup replay in 2015, the last of 3 consecutive wins in Kent. Matt Godden gave Ebbsfleet the lead before a Kenny Clark own goal put the Clarets on level terms. Hugo Skepelhorn scored 6 minutes from time on the counter-attack after the Clarets had weathered a storm from the Fleet.
Team News
Chelmsford City welcome back Arjanit Krasniqi after he was cup-tied after the visit to York. Chelsea loanee Eddie Beach is set to make his league debut after appearing at York on Saturday. Clarets boss Robbie Simpson may assess his squad for bumps and bruises after the long journey up north at the weekend.
Ticket News
Tickets are now available to be purchased in advance of the 7:45pm kick-off on Tuesday, 17th January and can be bought by clicking this link.
Ticket prices online:
Adult – £15
Concession – £12
Youth (12-17) – £7
Family (1 adult + 1 youth) – £20
Family (2 adults + 2 youths) – £35
Entry can also be purchased on the night at the Kuflink Stadium via the ticket-kiosk.
Ticket prices on the night:
Adult – £15
Concession – £12
Youth (12-17) – £7
Family (1 adult + 1 youth) – £20
Family (2 adults + 2 youths) – £35
Please note, Ebbsfleet United only accept card payments at the ticket windows. The turnstiles will not be taking cash on the night, so if you do not have an online ticket when you arrive, supporters will need purchase them at the ticket window, and then proceed to the turnstiles with your ticket.
ARRIVING BY ROAD
i. From the motorway
Exit the M25 at Junction 2 and take the A2 signposted Canterbury. Leave the A2 at the Northfleet/Gravesend West junction. At roundabout, follow signs to Ebbsfleet International Station/A226 which will take you on to Thamesway and past Ebbsfleet International. The stadium is at the end of the road. For car parking see below or contact the club if you have specific parking needs (for example, disabled parking).
ii. From Gravesend town centre
Follow the one-way system round to the railway station, turning right at the top of the road by the traffic lights. At the next junction, take left turn on to New Road/Overcliffe. Continue straight for about two miles to London Road, then The Hill, then Northfleet High Street and finally past The Hive down to Stonebridge Road. The ground is at the bottom of the hill by the roundabout.
ARRIVING BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The nearest stations are Northfleet (take Gravesend service from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge) and Ebbsfleet International. From Northfleet, go (more or less) straight ahead until you reach the main road. Turn left, walk to the bottom of the hill and the ground is on your right.
The high-speed rail service from London St Pancras to Ebbsfleet International (15-18 minutes journey time) will also take you to within walking distance of the ground. Proceed through Car Park C and out on to the roundabout where you will see the stadium in front of you.
If you are staying in Gravesend, you can get a bus to the ground from Gravesend station. Come out of the station on the Town side and turn right. There are bus stops just by the station – the 480/490 service will drop you outside the ground. Alternatively take the FASTRACK “B” Service, which also serves Ebbsfleet International.
CAR PARKING
There is limited space down side streets and Thamesway (between the station and the roundabout outside the stadium) is designated a ‘Clearway’ and any cars parked along there are liable to be ticketed. There is also limited space available in surrounding residential streets.
We would encourage all spectators to use Ebbsfleet International Station which offers secure matchday parking in its Car Park C for £3. It is just over five minutes walk from the ground and is the best bet for a parking space in the area. The club strongly advises use of this car park to avoid problems of vandalism or cars being ticketed. Please aid the gate staff by having small change to hand. High-value notes cannot be changed on the premises.
Where to follow the game…
The Club will be providing coverage of the game on Twitter (@OfficialClarets) using the hashtag #TheClarets.
There will also be live audio commentary from Radio Clarets.
Post-match reports and interviews will be found on the club website, social media and ClaretsTV following the game.
Weather
It set to be a bitterly cold evening with 0 degrees expected at kick-off dropping to minus 1 during the game.
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