Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore is relishing the Boxing Day clash at Dartford in National League South.

The 27-year-old will be in the firing line during the derby atmosphere at Princes Park. He featured when the teams last met in a 1-1 draw at Stonebridge Road in March.

“I’ve played my fair share of derby games,” said Ashmore.

“They are awesome to play in and when you get the win, it’s even better.

“Derbies over the Christmas period are always (tough affairs) but we’ve got to try and put that aside and get maximum points through the Christmas period.

“I’m always getting stick. You don’t want to hear some of the remarks I get from behind the goal but it’s all good banter. As long as I keep a clean sheet and get the three points they can call me whatever they like!”

Ashmore kept his eighth clean sheet in 22 league games last Saturday against Gosport and knows that a strong defence will be vital in the second half of the campaign.

Victory was a particularly sweet moment for Ashmore against Gosport, the club he left to join the Fleet in March.

He said: “We all want to win the league as a team and group of lads as well. It’s always nice to get three points, especially against your former club.

“I always want clean sheets. I’m disappointed if I concede a goal so it’s nice to get that and the three points.

“Rarely are we going to concede more than one goal a game. It’s hard for teams to break us down so we have to stay solid and let the strikers do their bit.”