On Saturday, Ebbsfleet United visit Dorking Wanderers in the sell-out Vanarama National League South play-off decider.

Having secured third place in the table by defeating Chelmsford City two-one on the final day of the season, and then Chippenham Town in the play-offs, they now play the team who finished as runners up to Maidstone United.

Marc White’s team qualified for the decider by defeating Oxford City three-nil in a game that was as good as won in the first twenty minutes by which time they were two-nil up through goals by Jason Prior and Barry Fuller. Alfie Rutherford, the league’s leading scorer, added a third shortly after the break. 

There was just five points difference between the two sides, who each conceded the same number of goals. However, Dorking were the league’s leading scorers by over twenty goals, finishing the season with an impressive one hundred and one strikes. 

To get to this game, Ebbsfleet found Chippenham Town a tough nut to crack, and it took a solitary extra time strike by substitute Lee Martin to win it.

In the two league matches between Dorking and Ebbsfleet, the Fleet were well beaten in Surrey in January, but drew the return match two months later. At the Meadowbank Stadium the hosts swept the Fleet away in the second half after a tight first period in which Matt Briggs scored the only goal.

However, after the break, Ebbsfleet were blitzed by three goals in ten minutes. Wes Fogden scored to open the floodgates before Briggs scored two more to complete his hat-trick. Adam Mekki pulled one back with just over ten minutes remaining, but Rutherford scored a fifth just before the end.

When Dorking returned to Kent, James McShane put the visitors ahead just after the fifteen minute mark but Rakish Bingham equalised two minutes later. After that both teams had great chances but Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Louie Moulden and his opposite number Dan Lincoln, made excellent saves to keep the score at one apiece. 

The stage is set for a tension filled afternoon with promotion being the prize for the victors.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.