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Ebbsfleet United captain Dave Winfield says home advantage will be key in play-off final against Chelmsford City

00:00, 10 May 2017

Dave Winfield believes home advantage will be key for Ebbsfleet in the play-off final.

Fleet have made Stonebridge Road a fortress, winning their last 12 games there - scoring 38 goals in the process and conceding just five.

They haven't lost at home for almost six months and beat Saturday's opponents Chelmsford 2-0 in January.

Dave Winfield could be back training in four weeks Picture: Martin Apps
Dave Winfield could be back training in four weeks Picture: Martin Apps

Winfield said: "It’s another tough game. They’ve all been tough this year. I can’t remember one game we’ve absolutely sailed through so it’ll be difficult.

"We’ll have to be on it again and I believe we will be. It’ll be played here and that’s where we play our football.

"It’s an exciting thing to come to play again on Saturday. We’ll prepare well throughout the week and we’ll come and play our football.

"It was a great atmosphere on Sunday and it’ll be a fantastic atmosphere again on Saturday. It drives the players on, the support, and I’m sure they’ll be the same come Saturday."

Centre-half Winfield has skippered Ebbsfleet in each of their last six games since club captain Danny Kedwell broke his right arm in the 1-1 draw at Truro on April 8.

A summer signing from York City, he's started 33 league games and scored four goals in all competitions for Daryl McMahon's side.

Dave Winfield (centre) celebrates Ebbsfleet's semi-final win over Hampton & Richmond Picture: Andy Payton
Dave Winfield (centre) celebrates Ebbsfleet's semi-final win over Hampton & Richmond Picture: Andy Payton

Fleet have lost two play-off finals in the last three years but Winfield doesn't care about history.

He said: "I didn’t experience that, not being at the club at that time.

"All I can say is the group of players we’ve got here this year have been second to none. Their work-rate and desire to win games has really pulled us through the second part of the season.

"I’m going into this game full of confidence - as should the boys.

"We prepare as we have done every single game this year, Saturday to Saturday or if there’s a midweek game. There’s no taking your foot off the gas, we’re here to do a job.

"We’ve got a great will to win here. I’ve said this in the changing-room a number of times, it’s that never-say-die attitude that I want to see from the boys."

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