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FA Cup: Ebbsfleet United set for first round replay at Cheltenham Town

History beckons for Ebbsfleet in their FA Cup first round replay at Cheltenham on Tuesday night.

Fleet haven't reached the second round since 2003/04, when they were still Gravesend & Northfleet.

And it's 23 years since they knocked out a Football League side - Colchester United - on the way to play Aston Villa in round three.

Corey Whitely takes on the Cheltenham defence during the first game Picture: Andy Jones
Corey Whitely takes on the Cheltenham defence during the first game Picture: Andy Jones

Fleet held Cheltenham to a goalless draw at Stonebridge Road 10 days ago and the tie must be settled tonight (Tuesday).

The League 2 strugglers are odds-on to go through but Ebbsfleet manager Garry Hill insists his National League side are more than good enough to cause an upset away from home.

He said: "It is where it is. It's not a concern to me.

"Cheltenham are favourites and they're the League club so they should be going through but I don't think there's much between the two sides.

"In the situation where we are, there's a lot at stake for both clubs financially and the big incentive of being one round away from a glamour third-round tie.

"We'll go there positive. We know it's going to be a tough game but we look forward to it."

The winners will secure £36,000 in prize money and a trip to Accrington Stanley in the second round.

Ebbsfleet are unbeaten in six matches and have gone almost five hours without conceding a goal while Cheltenham, who climbed out of the League 2 relegation zone on Saturday, have been knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league opposition in four of the last five seasons.

Hill said: "We'll have a go at any game. We're not going to go anywhere and sit back and defend.

"You get forced back in games but I think the general public at Ebbsfleet United will want to see attacking teams.

"We'll do our utmost to do that consistently all the time."

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