Ebbsfleet United will throw open the gates of Stonebridge Road tonight for free as Weston-super-Mare return to Kent to honour the league fixture that was abandoned four weeks ago due to floodlight failure.
The club has made admission tonight free to all comers, regardless of whether they attended the original fixture, and the top versus bottom fixture comes at a time when Fleet – who have the best record in the top seven divisions of English football – are looking to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points.
Fleet boss Daryl McMahon has warned, however, that nobody should expect “three points to just fall into our laps. If we want them, we have to earn them” and he’s not taking the visitors lightly. “If people are coming here for the first time tonight with the club’s offer of free admission, I hope they like what they see and come back to help swell a really great crowd,” said McMahon. “The players are performing well and playing some good stuff and I hope people outside the regular fanbase begin to notice that.”
Despite their position at the foot of the table, Weston have seen their form improve since their last visit to Stonebridge Road, with only two defeats in their last five games. That has included a draw against then-league leaders Bath City and a narrow defeat at Dartford where the Seagulls were leading going into the final few minutes of the game.
Since the abandoned fixture, the Seagulls have released skipper Tom Jordan and midfielder Kane Ingram. Into the squad have come Bulgarian midfielder Tsvetan Filipov and Paulton Rovers striker Mitchell Page, while their key midfield man, Dayle Grubb, has been promoted to skipper in Jordan’s place.
Home fans can also purchase advance tickets for the Maidstone match (3rd October) from the club office tonight.
