MATCH PREVIEW | EBBSFLEET UNITED VS OXFORD CITY
City look for first win on the road against a familiar foe.
Oxford City will look to build on their impressive victory last weekend against Woking with points against relegation rivals Ebbsfleet.
The Hoops recorded a first win in six last time out, beating last year’s play-off quarter-finalists Woking 3-2, courtesy of goals by Olly Sanderson, Zac McEachran and Josh Parker.
The win saw the Hoops rise to 22nd, a place below this Saturday’s opponents.
Ebbsfleet, like City, came up from the National League South last year, recording a huge 103 points as they went up as champions. However, life in the National League has been a mixed bag for them.
Despite starting the season well, with four wins in their first seven, Ebbsfleet have picked up just six points from their last ten games, seeing them fall into the final relegation spot.
However, they pulled off an impressive result last week, equalising late to secure a point away at Hartlepool, so manager Dennis Kutrieb will be hoping they can take that momentum into Saturday.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Ebbsfleet United vs Oxford City
Vanarama National League
The Kuflink Stadium | Saturday 18th November, 15:00
Referee: Reubyn Ricardo Assistants: Richard Carter & Laurentiu Hantea Fourth Official: Abigail Byrne
RECENT FORM
Oxford City - L L L L W
Ebbsfleet United - W L W L L
Ebbsfleet’s strong start has tailed off in recent weeks. A loss in their FA Cup replay to National League South side Slough was followed up with a draw away at fellow relegation strugglers Fylde, before defeats at Southend and Dagenham and Redbridge.
However, some free agent signings, including ex-Liverpool forward Jordon Ibe, have looked to have made an impact, as the side battled to an impressive draw at Hartlepool last Saturday, scoring a 95th minute equaliser in the process.
They havent won a game since September though, and Ross Jenkins’ side will be looking to capitalise on their defensive frailties this weekend.
ONE TO WATCH - Dominic Poleon
A familiar name due to his goalscoring habits of last season, Domnic Poleon’s influence at Ebbsfleet cannot be understated.
The St. Lucian international racked up an incredible 36 goals for Ebbsfleet in their title winning campaign last year, and has started this season in similar vein. Poleon missed over a month with injury, but is still his sides leading scorer this year with 8 in 12.
Poleon played youth football for Chelsea and Southend, before making a move to Leeds United in 2009.
This is where he made his first team debut, as he was brought on as an eighteen year-old by Neil Warnock against Shrewsbury Town. Poleon went on to score three times for the Yorkshire side, before departing the club in 2014.
He then had short spells at Oldham, Wimbledon, Bradford, Crawley and Newport, before eventually finding his feet at Ebbsfleet in 2021.
He scored 17 goals in his debut season, but his Ebbsfleet side were unable to overcome Dorking in the play-off final.
In his second season in the National League South, Poleon took the division by storm. He scored 36 goals in 43 appearances, inclduing four hattricks, one of which was against the Hoops. He won the Player of the Year award at the end of the 2022/23 season.
He continued where he left off at the start of this year as well, scoring ten goals for club and country in just six games before his injury, including a hattrick in his second St. Lucia cap.
The Fleet will be hoping he can get back to this level in the next few weeks, and use his goals to steer them away from the releagtion places.
HAVE WE MET BEFORE?
You only have to go back as far as April to find the most recent game between these sides, with Dominic Poleon scoring a hattrick in a 3-0 victory for the Fleet. In the reverse fixture, Olly Sanderson equalised in a 1-1 draw at the RAW Charging Stadium.
The sides met twice in the league the season before last too, with both sides winning one game. City’s win came courtesy of a Reece Fleet goal on half time.
THE MANAGER - Dennis Kutrieb
The only manager in the league from outside the British Isles, Kutrieb became Ebbsfleet’s main man in 2020.
His only other previous managerial roles were in the lower tiers of the German game, where, in his final season before joining Ebbsfleet, he got Tennis Borussia Berlin promoted to the fourth tier of the German game.
In Kutrieb’s first season, he was unable to keep Ebbsfleet in the National League South. However, he bounced back the next year, nearly coming straight back up, but for a loss in the play-off final.
And he went one further last year, winning the title with 103 points, and scoring 110 goals in the process. After promotion, Kutrieb signed a contract to keep him at the club till 2026.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Both squads have a player that has featured for both sides. Omari Sterling-James joined Ebbsfleet in 2021 from Kidderminster Harriers, and played for the Hoops on loan in the 2015/16 season. In our team, Chris Haigh is currently loaned in from Ebbsfleet for the remainder of the season.
Luke Coulson and Adam Mekki are two more names that have played for both sides. Winger Coulson is now at Dartford, but made over 40 appearances for each team. He was at City in 2015/16 as well, before ending up at Ebbsfleet in 2017.
Welsh midfielder Mekki, enjoyed a short spell at City as a youngster back in 2011, scoring twice. He spent two years at Ebbsfleet much more recently, leaving them at the end of last season to join Dorking.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
Stay tuned to our official Twitter page for all the build-up, regular updates and post-match action.
LIVE STREAM:
This game will be available for international streaming via National League TV. You can buy a match pass by clicking HERE!
Remember to choose Oxford City as your favourite team!
AUDIO/RADIO COMMENTARY:
Can't make it to the match? BBC Radio Oxford will be providing full commentary of our match online.
Click HERE to head to the BBC's non-league commentary page where you'll be able to tune in at around 14:50. Or simply tune into BBC Radio Oxford on BBC Sounds.
