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Sport

Ebbsfleet United on the verge of the National League play-offs

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 00:00, 26 April 2018

Ebbsfleet need just a point at relegated Torquay on Saturday to book their place in the National League play-offs.

They climbed to a season-high fifth on Tuesday night with a stunning 5-2 win at Gateshead and are in control of their destiny on the final day of the regular season.

Victory at Plainmoor would carry even greater reward - a home game in the play-offs.

Corey Whitely on the ball for Ebbsfleet against Sutton Picture: Andy Payton

Fleet would finish fourth if they won but defeat on the final day could see them drop out of the top seven.

Manager Daryl McMahon said: "Let's see how high we can finish.

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"At the start of the season, I thought finishing in the top 10 would be a great achievement and now we've got an opportunity to finish higher.

"We'll go down to Torquay and try to perform like we have for most of the season. We'll go on the front foot, play good football and be exciting to watch."

With Sutton and Aldershot, the two teams immediately above, going head-to-head on the final day, Ebbsfleet know they would leapfrog one of them if they beat Torquay.

In the National League's revamped play-off structure, finishing fourth would mean a one-off home game against the seventh-placed club on Thursday, 24 hours after the sides finishing fifth and sixth face off.

But McMahon said: "I'm not too worried about that. What will be, will be. I just want us to go and perform again.

"Saturday against Sutton was the first time in a while we've played with handbrake on but on Tuesday we definitely didn't. It was back to us being free-flowing and enjoying the game.

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"The result takes care of itself if you do perform well."

Torquay are already down so the game is a free hit for them but McMahon said: "We're not under any pressure either.

"There's no issues for us, nothing holding us back. We're going to enjoy the game and wherever we finish, we finish."

Ebbsfleet have put themselves in this position with a fantastic set of recent results.

Since the start of February they've won nine out of 13 games, losing just one and picking up 30 of a possible 39 points.

McMahon said: "It's terrific, in our first season at this level with me and the first time back (for the club) in five years.

"To finish where we're going to finish now is a fantastic achievement for everybody at the club."

Saturday's game at Torquay kicks off at 12.30pm.

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