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Sport

Ebbsfleet United midfielder Dean Rance enjoying more advanced role in the National League

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 06:30, 12 February 2018

Dean Rance wants to start dominating games from midfield after showing he can do both sides of the game on Saturday.

Rance, a spoiler by trade, was handed a different brief on Saturday when Fleet hosted Solihull Moors in the National League.

He was the most advanced player in the move which led to Ebbsfleet's winning goal, keeping the ball alive and setting up substitute Luke Coulson to score.

Dean Rance had a fine game against Solihull Moors Picture: Andy Payton

Rance said: "I had a free role to get forward a bit more and support Keds with Paynie behind me. That gave me the license to get on a little bit more.

"I can do both sides. I can sit but I've also got the legs to get box-to-box.

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"For the last few years, I've been the one sitting, which I'm happy to do when needed but at the same time, I can go forward and I want to add goals to my game. I feel like I can impact it further up the pitch as well.

"I can get back just as quick to stop a ball coming in from the wide areas in our own box, which I did a couple of times on Saturday.

"The main thing is to add whatever I can to the team, do what I do well and make sure I have an impact on the game.

"I want to dictate games, I want to dominate midfields and I feel like I can do that in whatever role I have. I've got Paynie behind me so I know he's going to sit and do the bit behind me, which gives me the license to go forward and then I've got Drury and Powell to play with, with Keds and Coulson. We've got so many players going forward so it's another string to my bow.

Dean Rance has played with and for Daryl McMahon since 2012 Picture: Andy Payton

"I want to be dynamic. Some games I might need to sit in with Paynie, as we did towards the end when they had a bit of possession. We can sit as a two with Dukesy or Powelly in front of us and then when we've got good possession of the ball, I can then go on a little bit more and Paynie can sit in bheind me.

"At the same time, we're all intelligent players. If Paynie does go forward, I'll fill in for him and the same for Dukesy and Powelly. We can all play the positions well so it's just how we play it."

Rance earned the praise of his manager, Daryl McMahon, after the game.

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"I thought Rancey was brilliant," McMahon said. "He was brilliant last week (at Tranmere) and he was brilliant again today.

"I've known Deano for six years from Dover to here and he's been terrific for us. You just know he's whole-hearted, he's committed and he's been here from the start, which I think makes a difference.

"He's been along the journey, had the ups and downs with it and he's a top lad."

Dean Rance clears the ball during Ebbsfleet's win at Maidstone Picture: Andy Payton

Rance, 26, has made 195 appearances for Fleet since joining the club in 2013.

But he said: "Whether you've been here two weeks or five years, it should mean the same to any player that steps out on the pitch playing for Ebbsfleet. Whether it's me or the new boys who came in the summer, it means just as much to them as it does to me.

"I want to win games of football. However we win the games, to me it doesn't matter, I just want three points at the end of the game because I've got it in me.

"I've said for years that I want to get in the Football League and I really do believe we can do it with this squad but we need to hit the levels that we did on Saturday, every single week, not have off days, and if things aren't going well, stick together and see out games.

"You're not going to be on top every single game, you're going to have spells where you're up against it and that's where the real mettle and attitude comes to the forefront and we can hold a 1-0 win like we did on Saturday."

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