It’s the final home match before Christmas and the Fleet will want to deliver an early gift to fans and secure a third straight home win over Barnet after the disappointment of the Isuzu FA Trophy exit. A 3-0 victory over Barnet in 2019/20 provided the Fleet with a surprise first home win of that season and Danny Kedwell’s only goal of the game (below) handed us another three points the year before.
Form Guide
Despite a difficult patch of form, Barnet sit third in the National League. Before their match with top-of-the-table Chesterfield last month, the Bees had only lost two matches but they have since found themselves on the losing end four times on the bounce in the league, along with a cup exit to Newport County by 4-1. However, the Bees will be looking to last weekend’s 4-0 victory over Maidstone United in the Trophy for inspiration instead, which saw top scorer Nicke Kabamba add two more to his tally.
Last time out
An August Bank Holiday trip to Barnet was an entertaining affair but the Fleet returned empty-handed as a hat-trick from Kabamba earned the hosts the three points, cancelling out Dominic Poleon’s brace. The big news from that match though was Wycombe loanee Jack Wakely’s serious knee injury inside the opening 10 minutes (below).
New faces at The Hive
Three new faces for Barnet since our meeting in August include former Celtic striker Gary Hooper. The 35-year-old made 95 appearances during his three-year spell in Scotland from 2010 where he won titles, cups and appeared in the Champions League. He has more recently played for clubs around the globe, including A-League side Wellington Phoenix and in Cyprus and the UAE.
Another new face at Barnet is defender Connor Stevens. Having won promotion in 2020 with Wealdstone and current Barnet boss Dean Brennan, he moved on to Boreham Wood where he enjoyed that famous FA Cup run with the side in the 2021/22 season. Since joining Barnet, Stevens had spent a month on loan at Hayes & Yeading but has since returned to The Hive.
Jordan Cropper is the newest face having signed at the end of October. He spent a couple of months on loan at Barnet towards the end of last season and has now returned on a permanent deal having previously played for the likes of Chesterfield and Grimsby Town.
Club connections
Fleet keeper Mark Cousins knows a thing or two about Saturday’s opponents having played for them during the 2018/19 season, while an 18-year-old Josh Wright had a loan spell in League Two with the Bees in 2007/08. One man not involved tomorrow due to his loan at Braintree is Shaq Coulthirst but he had a long and successful spell at Barnet, making 81 appearances between 2017 and 2020.
Ellenor Hospice collection
Your very own Fleet Father Christmas will be doing the rounds once again this year taking your spare change and generous donations in aid of ellenor hospice. Supporters have been hugely generous in previous years, so keep an eye and ear out for Santa and his buckets to deposit your coins and notes!
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online up until kick-off here (the match is segregated so please select HOME or AWAY options as necessary) and also on the day at our ticket windows. Car-parking is available for the special matchday price of £3 at Ebbsfleet International Car Park C. Programmes can be pre-ordered with your ticket, or from our online shop. In the ground, you can purchase in the club shop, just past the main home turnstiles, at the Plough End social club and for away fans in the Old Sponsors Lounge/portakabin bar.
Supporters are reminded that alcohol will not be permitted to be consumed within view of the pitch and that matches will be segregated as required at the Swanscombe End (or the far end of it). Please cooperate with the instructions of our security team and stewards.
