The Fleet return to the Kuflink Stadium just three days on from Saturday’s hosting of Oxford City and it’s a similar challenge, with Maidenhead United having struggled this season until their recent run of good form.
Form guide
Maidenhead will enter this match with confidence having won three league matches in a row, the most recent at Solihull Moors. A difficult start to the campaign before that recent run leaves the Magpies 18th in the table, but that set of positive results has seen them slowly pull away from the bottom four.
Head-to-head
The stats are certainly in the Fleet’s favour with nine wins to Maidenhead’s six out of 21 matches played. The most recent game, right before the league was suspended during the pandemic, saw the Fleet send three past the Magpies despite going behind early on. Our biggest win over Maidenhead was a 4-0 victory at York Road nine years ago, Matt Godden among the goalscorers and the Magpies have won only one of the last seven clashes.
Who’s who?
Experienced goalkeeper Craig Ross arrived at York Road at the beginning of the season having spent a number of years at Woking, while he has also played for Whitehawk, Eastbourne Borough, Macclesfield Town and Barnet.
Breaking through the Maidenhead academy, Reece Smith is currently the Magpies’ top goalscorer this season with five goals and picking up plenty of interest among scouts. Chanka Zimba has also found the back of the net on four occasions, coming in on loan from Cardiff City.
In midfield, Sam Barratt has returned to the club on loan from Barnet, having been part of the Maidenhead side that pipped the Fleet to the 2017 National South title while Alan Massey and Remi Clerima remain from that team as well but will likely not start.
Former Fleet loanee and winger Ashley Nathaniel-George is away on international duty with Antigua & Barbuda.
The manager
Alan Devonshire is the longest-serving boss in the National League, having taken charge of Maidenhead for a second time in 2015. With an amazing football pedigree, Devonshire spent most of his football career at West Ham where he made over 350 appearances for the Hammers, won the FA Cup in 1980 and played for England.
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 night 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.
