Ebbsfleet United supporters have had a less than enjoyable few week losing 3-0 at their Kent rival's Maidstone United in the Emirates FA Cup last Saturday followed by a 4-0 defeat at York City. The Fleet brought in a new Manager in September in the shape of Harry Watling who won his first game in charge 1-0 at home to Hartlepool United.
It's a brave appointment by the club as it's the 34 year old's first job in Senior Football in the United Kingdom. He was academy coach at Chelsea, Millwall and West Ham United before a move to the USA to coach USL Championship side Hartford Athletic in January 2021. Since moving back to England he has been coach at Queens Park Rangers and for Rangers before moving to Stonebridge Road.
Since the win against Hartlepool United they have lost to Sutton United, Maidenhead United and Oldham Athletic as well as a draw against Rochdale together with the recent defeats mentioned above.
They have a very tough looking trip to title challenger's Forest Green Rovers tomorrow evening followed by a huge game at home to Wealdstone on Saturday. Skybet.com rate The Fleet at 6/1 to bring home three points tomorrow!
Wealdstone are just above Ebbsfleet in the table with just one win (1-0 over fellow struggler's AFC Fylde) in fourteen league games. Since promotion to The National League in 2020 The Stones have finished in 19th, 16th, 13th and 16th positions in the table. It's been a tough start for new Manager Matt Taylor who has previously been in charge of football league team's Walsall and Shrewsbury Town.
It's a massive week for the club as they host Braintree Town (20th) on Wednesday before the big trip to Stonebridge Road at the weekend. They have only scored nine goals in fourteen games - they have recently signed striker Alex Reid on loan from Oldham Athletic who has played for a number of National League during his career. He netted a hat-trick on his debut in the 4-1 FA Cup win over Gosport Borough.
Boston United were promoted back to The National League over the summer and like many clubs they have found the jump from Step Two to Step One a massive one. Ian Culverhouse's side were promoted via the National North play-offs after finishing in sixth place last season. It's a week of huge games at the bottom of the table as The Pilgrims host AFC Fylde (21st) on Wednesday. Both their wins have come away from home at York City and Sutton United.
It'll be former Tottenham Hotspur. Norwich City, Swindon Town and Brighton & HA defender Culverhouse v Kevin Phillips on Wednesday evening. The former Watford, Sunderland, Southampton and WBA striker was recently appointed head-coach of The Coasters following the departure of Chris Beech.
The difficult task at hand for Phillips has been underlined by his first two games in charge which have been a 1-4 home defeat in the FA Cup to Rochdale and a 4-0 away league defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge.
Just above the drop zone at the moment are Braintree Town (promoted via The National South play-offs), Maidenhead United (who have struggled towards the bottom of the table since promotion in 2017 with a best placed finish of 12th), Woking, Hartlepool United, Aldershot Town and Southend United.
Hartlepool United have recently parted company with former Woking, Stevenage and Yeovil Town boss Darren Sarll who had only been appointed in April. They have won four of their thirteen league games prior to his departure as well as a FA Cup defeat to Step Two side Brackley Town.
Lennie Lawrence has taken over on a caretaker basis as the search for a new Manager begins. Seventy-Six year old Lawrence was in the dug out for their 1-1 draw at Maidenhead United at the weekend who have sixty-eight year old Alan Devonshire in charge making the game surely one of the oldest combined ages of Managers ever!
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