Breaching tight defences is becoming something of a specialist art for the Fleet these days. Having faced off against two of the meanest back lines in Chelmsford City and Farnborough in quick succession, along comes another one!
While Hemel’s overall defensive record this season is not particularly eye-catching, they can boast the best one in the division over the past 10 games, having let in just seven goals with five clean sheets since new boss Bradley Quinton took over.
That said, Hemel’s defence will have to deal with the best goalscorers in the league – Dominic Poleon leads the division’s charts and shows little sign of letting up, while the two goals scored in midweek took the Fleet’s total past 80 for the first time since 2016/17. The target with 11 games remaining must be past 100 for what would be only the second time in the club’s history.
That’s a target for another day, however, and Fleet fans will need little telling that Dennis Kutrieb and his players only have eyes on the next 90 minutes. Those fans will have been encouraged by the sight of Craig Tanner stretching his legs pre-game at Farnborough and the return last week of Joe Martin at Chelmsford. And although goalscorer Franklin Domi left the pitch early on Tuesday night, Kutrieb confirmed that was more fatigue than anything more serious.
The draw at Farnborough moved the points total as well as the goals column into the eighties and with 33 points still available, there can be no letting up in the intensity the Fleet have shown in 2023.
It’s another big week but the last double-header of the season with Tuesday’s game against Worthing the final midweek match of the campaign and then it all comes down to weekend football.
Hemel arrive with good results in Kent this year – they beat Dartford at Princes Park and in midweek struck a late goal to return from Welling United with three points. Under new boss Quinton – who won promotion from this division as both player and manager with Braintree Town – they’ve become a more formidable outfit and although they have some work to do to get into the play-off picture, it’s certainly not out of the question.
Quinton has shuffled his squad since his arrival to succeed Mark Jones. Hemel have a couple of loanees in the door, most impressively former Welsh international midfielder George Williams who was a member of the Euro 2016 squad. He’s come in from Boreham Wood, while others include Nana Owusu who played against us for Dulwich Hamlet recently, and Joshua Williams from Luton Town.
More permanent inclusions since last we met include ex-Spurs U23 Jeremie Mukendi, full-back Montel McKenzie and former Arsenal and England youth international striker Kaylen Hinds.
Hemel’s away form was patchy in 2022 and while they were well-beaten at Hungerford only two weeks ago, they have picked up on their travels, beating Dartford and Welling and ending Farnborough’s unbeaten run. And Hemel’s record against the Fleet has still yet to see them win in nine meetings but for all that, they have usually been a tough opponent and have come away from Stonebridge Road with a couple of 2-2 draws in the past.
Midfielder Josh Castiglione – a member of the Royston Town side that knocked Fleet out of the Trophy three years ago – is the current top scorer with five but Hemel tend to share the goals around rather than rely on an individual.
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
We have a new bar opening in the old Sponsors’ Lounge (the building situated by the Swanscombe End) serving beers from Iron Pier Brewery and Hofmeister so please do check that out. And in the corner of the Main Stand and Swanscombe End is a new food catering outlet, Fleet Feast, which opened to the public along Stonebridge Road last week and will be serving teas, coffees, other drinks and hot food/snacks.
Check out our other existing 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 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.
