This is it, the Blue Square South Play-Off Final between Farnborough FC and Ebbsfleet United kicks-off at 3pm this Sunday at The Rushmoor Stadium.
The last game of the Blue Square South is upon us and either Steve King or Liam Daish’s men will be competing in the Conference Premier next season. After finishing in second and third place it seems only right that the tie on Sunday is between Farnborough and Ebbsfleet. By being the higher placed team, Farnborough secured home field advantage and will be hoping to make that count with a record crowd this Sunday.
However the Fleet boast the best away record from the regular season with 13 wins, five draws and only three losses so don’t expect a large crowd to phase Liam Daish and his determined side. Ebbsfleet also come into the game a lot fresher than Farborough as they disposed of Chelmsford City 2-1 within 90 minutes on Sunday afternoon, mainly thanks to their incredible 4-1 demolition of the Clarets in the first leg. Michael West scored a brace in both legs and is coming into Sunday’s final on a good run of form.
Farnborough had to battle hard on Sunday in the other semi-final against Woking, and were on the field for 120 minutes of fast paced action that you would expect from a local derby. However the Hampshire side did not fade and were rewarded when Dean McDonald found the back of the net in the 111th minute.
In the regular season both sides took all three points when visiting their opponents grounds. Ebbsfleet snatched a victory in injury time, West the hero then, in a game that Farnborough deserved at least a point at the Rushmoor Stadium back in August last year. More recently Farnborough defeated Ebbsfleet at Stonebridge Road 3-0 after they went down to ten men very early on…..
The Fleet had no substitute keeper on the bench that day, so midfielder Tom Phipp spent the next 89 minutes in goal.
Sunday’s game promises to be a cracker and I shall be making the trip from Southampton to Farnborough to watch my beloved Ebbsfleet get my promoted. Oh, and before you ask, the Fleet are my local team but I am currently studying in Southampton.
Joshua Peck