I'll have no problem picking the players up off the floor, says Ebbsfleet United boss Steve Brown

EBBSFLEET UNITED manager Steve Brown says his side will be recharged in time for their trip to Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.

The Fleet were knocked out of The FA Cup by current Vanarama Conference South leaders Basingstoke Town last Saturday.

Ebbsfleet United dominated the home Third Qualifying Round tie for 70 minutes and were thwarted on nine occasions by Basingstoke goalkeeper Stuart Moore, 20, who is on a season long loan from Reading.

But the prolifigate Kent side finally took the lead second minutes into the second half through Charlie Sheringham’s ninth goal of the season, before the Dragons snatched victory courtesy of two late sucker punches from Chris Floor and former Ebbsfleet striker Liam Enver-Marum.

Brown admits to appreciating a seven-day break from playing so he can rally his troops for Saturday’s trip to a club that are struggling in their first Conference South campaign.

Hemel Hempstead Town sit in the bottom three having collected three wins and two draws from ten league games.

Brown’s men are in fourth-place in the table, having won six and drawn two of their 11 league outings.

“I think we’re a side that likes to have a week on the training ground leading up to a game,” said Brown.

“Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday suits other clubs and other managers because they don’t have the facilities we have or the training days we have so it suits us so I’m quite pleased that we’ve got three days on the training ground leading up to the game.”

When asked what he’s expecting against the newly-promoted side, Brown replied: “We’ve had them watched and we’re aware what they do and they’re not a bad side, but neither are we.

“We’re in very good form league wise. We’ve stuttered in both of the Cups now (FA Cup and Kent Reliance Cup) but League wise we’re in very good form, three clean sheets, some great results since that loss at Weston and we’ll be looking to get back on track as quickly as possible.

“We know what we have to do and we know what their strengths and weaknesses are so we’ll do some work on that this week.”

Ebbsfleet United train three mornings a week at Cobdown Sports & Social Club in Ditton, which is the venue where NRG Gym Kent County League Premier side APM Contrast play their home games and a stones throw away from Kent Football Association offices.

“The way we are as a group it maybe a little bit feisty (at training) because no one wants to go out especially the manner that we have but there’s no problems picking the players up off the floor.”

Meanwhile, the club have brought forward their home game against Hayes & Yeading United to Saturday, 25 October, due to both club’s FA Cup exits last weekend.

The Stonebridge Road clash was originally scheduled three days later.

Visit Ebbsleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Hemel Hempstead  v  Ebbsfleet United
Vanarama Conference South
Saturday 18^th October 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Vauxhall Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4HW