The Kuflink Stadium’s first home game of 2023 coincides with Fleet moving into the second half of the season, having played 23 matches and with the same number remaining.
That would be as good a time as any to wipe the slate clean from the past few matches and return to the form which saw Fleet begin the season with such sparkling force. The visitors, however, will be hoping to avoid anything resembling their start to the season that found them rooted to the bottom of the league for the first few months.
That said, Weymouth are by no means out of danger yet, with a five-point gap to safety to bridge, and they as much the Fleet are urgently in need of points but for different reasons.
The Fleet will have to become increasingly used to such a battle for points as the season edges towards its climax, with promotion, play-off and relegation candidates to come.
After the double reverses to Dartford over the Christmas period, the need to get back on track goes without saying and to that end, the return of Elliott Romain and Jack Paxman from their loan spells give the Fleet a couple of extra options. Both Joe Martin and Luke O’Neill departed the field at Princes Park with knocks so depending on how fit one or both of those were after that, there are likely tweaks at the back as well.
Then there were those who didn’t feature in the starting XI on New Year’s Day, including Christian N’Guessan, Darren McQueen, Franklin Domi and Omari Sterling-James who could come back into the reckoning.
Weymouth, too, have injury concerns – especially in defence. Former Fleet centre-back Charlie Rowan was signed on loan from Oxford City in December but was almost immediately ruled out after dislocating his collar bone and snapping a ligament. The Terras already have Teddy Howe missing, while Wealdstone loanee David Sesay faces a fitness test on an ankle, Hari McCoy is still on the sidelines after a head injury and striker Tom Bearwish serves a suspension.
That’s a minor improvement, however, on an injury and illness list that at one stage numbered 10 and manager Bobby Wilkinson – the former Hungerford and Bracknell Town boss who replaced David Oldfield at the helm in September – may yet bring one or two new faces in before Saturday to plug his back line. And although the Terras lost their Boxing Day clash at home to Taunton Town, they have four wins and a draw from their last seven games, including a 5-0 win on their previous visit to Kent at the expense of Tonbridge Angels.
Weymouth gave the Fleet a real contest on that scorching hot day back in August when it took a Craig Tanner winner with virtually the last kick of the game to record a 3-2 victory for Dennis Kutrieb’s side. Although without one goalscorer Bearwish this weekend, they will have former Weston-super-Mare, Barnsley and Chippenham striker Brad Ash in their ranks and he has found the net against the Fleet on a couple of occasions.
New faces since last time the clubs met include goalkeeper Zaki Oualah, former Eastbourne striker Josh Oyinsan and ex-Bracknell midfielder Scott Rees.
Weymouth’s record on the road this season is far better than their home form, with only one win on their own patch all season. By contrast, they have enjoyed four victories away, three of them in the last few weeks at Welling, Tonbridge and Worthing. They also pulled off a fine win at Havant in the Emirates FA Cup.
Ash is top scorer with seven so far this season, but the Fleet defence will also need to keep an eye on former Grimsby Town and Dover frontman Ahkeem Rose who has hit some form of late.
MATCHDAY SMALL PRINT ——–>
ONLINE SALES
Our online ticketing sales platform at fleetlive.club has tickets available until 12.00pm on matchday. We would, however, strongly advise pre-purchase for both your and our convenience in gaining admission to the ground.
On-the-day ticket sales are available from the windows by main reception, accepting card and cash payments. Turnstiles open at 1pm but they will only accept online tickets (printed out or on your device) and tickets bought at the windows on matchday.
This game is not segregated.
MAIN STAND BAR
All supporters are welcome in our Main Stand and Social Club bars. To access the Main Stand bar, enter through the turnstiles and walk the length of the gangway in the Main Stand to the door at the Swanscombe (uncovered) End. There is signage pointing you in the direction. Dennis Kutrieb does a pre-match teamsheet run-through. Post-match music entertainment is free after the final whistle.
CATERING OUTLETS
Check out our food stalls (to the left of the main turnstiles entrance, there is our Würtsel Haus German sausage experience and straight ahead as you enter the ground is the Manhattan Grill for all your burger, hot dog and more needs!). Pop-up bars are also situated near to the turnstiles and by ‘Geeks Corner’ between the Plough End and old stand. We have a Hofmeister popup to be found in the marquee between the main turnstiles entrance and the Main Stand.
CAR PARKING
Car-parking as per usual on matchdays is available at Ebbsfleet International Car Park C for £3. Please have the correct change if possible to aid our parking staff and again, we would recommend an early arrival. Please note that the areas near to Northfleet Station, namely Railway Street and Hamerton Road, are resident/permit-only parking and non-valid vehicles will be ticketed. The area on Thamesway before the roundabout as you approach the Kuflink Stadium is a designated clearway – though that is not particularly apparent as you approach – so you are advised not to park here because of the risk of being ticketed.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMMES
If you wish to purchase your programme in advance for collection from our club shop before you enter the ground, you can do so either via our online shop or when booking your matchday tickets online.
Programmes are also on sale at the ground from the club shop, the popup bar as you enter the turnstiles, the Main Stand tea kiosk or in the Social Club behind the Plough End, costing £3. Advance-order programmes will be available to pick up from the club shop before the game and before you enter the turnstiles.
