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Sport

Ebbsfleet United midfielder Luke Coulson looking to go one better this season

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 06:41, 26 June 2018

Updated: 07:18, 26 June 2018

Luke Coulson is determined to score more goals in his second season with Ebbsfleet United.

The midfielder found the net 11 times in 2017-18 with 10 of those coming in the National League.

It was a good tally which reflected Coulson's positive campaign with Fleet but he has high standards and has vowed to improve.

Luke Coulson on the run against Dover Picture: Andy Jones

He said: "I'm delighted with the amount of games I played and having that impact but having spoken to the manager I'm going to want more goals and more assists in the coming season.

"I think I've matured as a player. With experience and games, you only get better mentally as well as physically.

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"That's the first time I've played 54 games in one season. I learnt a lot last year and hopefully I'll grow even more this season."

Coulson joined Ebbsfleet last summer after spending six months with Barnet.

It was his fourth transfer in as many seasons and Coulson admitted his confidence dipped while he was with the Bees but it's a very different story now.

Playing for a manager who values him, with team-mates who know how to get the best out of him and in front of fans who get excited watching him, Coulson's swagger is back.

"That was the main reason I signed for Ebbsfleet," he said. "That's what I wanted and I wasn't disappointed.

Luke Coulson's spectacular winner against Solihull Moors sparked Ebbsfleet's run into the National League play-offs Picture: Andy Payton

"I wouldn't even talk about confidence right now in a negative way, as it definitely was a year go. I'm in a very happy place right now.

"I've had amazing holidays but I can't wait for the new season to start now.

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"You want to be around a manager and a club you feel is growing, especially where everyone's tuned in and everyone's got the same target.

"I felt everyone had that last season and it'll be interesting to see the new players coming in. The manager wouldn't buy anyone who didn't buy into that ethos.

"It's definitely exciting times going forward."

Ebbsfleet finished sixth last season after a superb late run which saw them win nine of their final 14 league games.

They knocked Aldershot out of the play-offs before finally losing in extra-time at Tranmere, who went on to win the final at Wembley.

Luke Coulson takes on two Macclesfield players Picture: Andy Payton

"We impressed a lot of other people in the league," Coulson said. "We'll be looking to copy that this season and hopefully have more of a reward at the end of it.

"I think people will definitely have more expectations because got to the play-offs last season.

"People will play us at the start of the season thinking that and there might be a different pressure on us to match last season. But we're fully capable of doing it.

"The new lads signing are going to want to make an impression and everyone returning to the club this year is going to want to make sure their place is kept.

"We had that heartache of just missing out on promotion last year so everyone's got the taste in their mouth to want to prove people wrong again."

Ebbsfleet start their pre-season on Thursday before flying to Portugal for their annual training camp.

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