On Saturday April 18th Hampton & Richmond Borough will travel to Kent to face playoff hopefuls Ebbsfleet United.
Last time out the Beavers secured an 11th consecutive season at National League South level with a 1-1 draw at home to Chippenham Town, courtesy of an Aaron Lacey backpost header.
The Fleet faced Hornchurch away and lost after a 90th minute winner from Angelo Balanta, stopping a run of three wins on the bounce.
After an underwhelming first half of the campaign, Ebbsfleet have only lost five games in their last twenty-three, a run starting back in December.
The Kent side’s home form is a large factor in their turn around, winning 13 of 22 and only losing three times at The Kuflink Stadium all season.
The Fleet have scored the fifth most goals in the league, and among their ranks lies the third top scorer in the league in Dominic Samuel.
The 32-year-old has bagged 17 league goals this season, and has plenty of pedigree, racking up over 130 appearances in the Championship and League One, scoring 25 goals.
He scored in six consecutive games from the 6th of December ‘til the 24th of Jan, but hasn’t bagged in eight games, since the 7th of March.
In his barren run, former Ghana international Kwesi Appiah has picked up in his absence. The 2015 AFCON runner up has scored ten goals with four in his last six, coming into form at the exact right time for the hosts.
The main provider this season has been right midfielder Charlie Seaman, he has seven assists and is an ever-present for Fleet also chipping in with five goals.
Behind them is longtime Ebbsfleet centre midfielder Ben Chapman, who has seven goals and five assists in 42 matches this season. He has been with the club since July 2020 and is the clubs longest serving player as he approaches 200 appearances.
In August the Beavers triumphed over Ebbsfleet 3-2 courtesy of a late winner from Craig Fasanmade, but wins at the Kuflink Stadium have been hard to come by.
Our last positive result away from home against the Fleet came in November 2016 in a 1-1 draw, with Jamal Lowe scoring in the 88th minute for a smash and grab point.
Let’s hope the boys can get another positive result in our final away game of the season before returning to the Bev for the final time on April 25th when we face Enfield!
Grab your tickets for that one HERE!
Up the Beavers!
By Jack Lonergan