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Ebbsfleet United boss Steve Brown believes his side could reach the FA Trophy final at Wembley if they can knock out Havant & Waterlooville

Action from Ebbsfleet's FA Trophy win at Whitstable (Pic: Tony Flashman)
Action from Ebbsfleet's FA Trophy win at Whitstable (Pic: Tony Flashman)

Ebbsfleet are back on the FA Trophy trail this weekend and manager Steve Brown believes they could go all the way to the final at Wembley.

A trip to Havant & Waterlooville lies in store for the Fleet on Saturday, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

With only six Skrill Premier sides left in the Trophy, there is a real chance for a lower-ranked club to go all the way in this season’s competition.

So could it be Ebbsfleet, the 2008 winners?

"I don’t see why not," Brown said. "The six (Premier) teams are strong teams but I do see it as an opportunity if we can plot our way past Havant and get somebody at home. We’ve got as good a chance as anybody.

"If you get to Wembley once in your career, that’s worth something. I won’t let people forget there’s a trip to Wembley at the end of it and I’m not a person who thinks that’s not worth it."

Ebbsfleet v Havant on the opening day of the season (Pic: Andy Payton)
Ebbsfleet v Havant on the opening day of the season (Pic: Andy Payton)

Ebbsfleet go into the tie as slight favourites, sitting seven points above Havant in Skrill South. But they were held to a goalless draw by the Hawks on the opening day of the season and Brown knows they won’t get things their own way at Westleigh Park.

He said: "Havant are a good side. Lee Bradbury’s an experienced manager and they were my dark horses at the start of the season.

"They’re a difficult team to play against on their day, they’re competitive and they can turn over anybody in our league. It’s going to be a tough test and the conditions are going to prove difficult.

"Their pitch isn’t in a good state and that’s going to play a part. We’re going to have to be dogged and determined but we’re a good side and if we go down there and perform to the best of our ability, we’ll give them a good game."

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