It’s Bank Holiday Weekend and that means two (relatively) local affairs as a short hop over the river is followed by the first visit of Dover for almost three years.
But the first concern is the trip to Concord Rangers, a mere four months on from the last encounter there, Fleet coming from behind to win 2-1 on the way to securing a play-off spot.
With four wins under the belt, Fleet travel in good shape to the Aspect Arena, Joe Martin having returned fully from his head injury last Saturday and Jack Paxman having earned another week of training.
“It’s not getting easier, we play Saturday-Monday,” said Dennis Kutrieb of the Bank Holiday schedule. “Everyone needs to play two games in two days but for me, from a manager’s perspective, the most crucial day is the second day after a game so if you have a tough day – and we will have a tough day at Concord – and go again two days later, it’s a big risk for getting injured. Everyone who plays Saturday, it’s a big risk if they play Monday whether it’s Premier League or our league but it is what it is and we’ll be up for this challenge. Concord is a tough place to go but the aim is the same as last week for the same outcome.”
Concord tied up the bulk of their squad early on in the close season and new recruitment was left until late on in the summer. Goalkeeper Melvin Minter has come in from Chesterfield, and there’s a trio of ex-Angels from Tonbridge – centre-back Teddy Perkins, midfielder D’Sean Theobalds and a player well known to Fleet fans, ex-Dover winger Ricky Modeste. A pair of young loanees from MK Dons complete the picture, defender Jack Davies and wide attacker Lewis Johnson.
The Beachboys, currently sitting eighth in the table, began the season well – two narrow wins over Hungerford and Taunton were followed by a draw at home to Dulwich. But a lot of that good work was undone in a 5-0 demolition at Oxford City last week that will have boss Chris Search demanding a reaction on home soil.
He called that performance “unacceptable”, Concord conceding their first after just 35 seconds, although they have lacked a couple of senior players of late and most of those absentees could be back this weekend.
“We’ll turn up on Saturday and dust ourselves down and be absolutely ready for Ebbsfleet,” he said. “I’ve challenged the senior players in our group to take responsibility, to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Concord have always been a tough nut to crack, particularly in their own surroundings. Fleet fell behind there last season before a late revival and the securing of points on the island has never been a simple task in the past.
Modeste has begun life back in Essex (he previously played for Chelmsford and Billericay) in good form with two goals and Fleet defenders will also need to keep tabs on tall, experienced striker Ben Williamson who counts Port Vale, Cambridge United, Eastleigh, Bromley and Dover amongst his former employers.
