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By Steve Tervet
Another mammoth away day lies in store for Ebbsfleet United this weekend as they journey west to take on Truro City in the FA Trophy.
Seven days after their league game at Barrow, the Fleet head to Cornwall looking to kick-start a run in the competition they won at Wembley four seasons ago.
The squad will begin their 580-mile round-trip on Friday knowing victory on Saturday will ensure they return having secured £5,000 of precious prize money at a stage of the season when the Fleet could most use it.
A surprise early exit from the FA Cup, against lowly Redbridge, places even greater focus on the Trophy, a competition Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish has always respected. However, he insists financial rewards will be the last thing on his players’ minds by the time kick-off arrives at Treyew Road.
He said: "You don’t want to put too much pressure on players regarding finance and all that, they just need to concentrate on winning. They’re here to play football and do their best. It will be a difficult trip, a side that are only a league below us. We’ve got to up the ante a little bit, see if who we’re playing against can match our work-rate."
Truro, promoted from the Southern League last season, sit 12th in Blue Square Bet South.
As for the journey itself, the Fleet boss believes more time on the road will help his squad bond. He said: "I remember as a player I always used to like an overnight stop with the lads, getting away, the crack of being together, it’s all part of it."