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Ebbsfleet United striker Matt Godden expecting a tough game at Whitehawk but says Fleet are full of confidence

Matt Godden says Ebbsfleet are full of confidence ahead of their play-off clash with Whitehawk.

Fleet's leading scorer knows the National League South runners-up face a tough test in Brighton on Wednesday night against a Hawks side who won six of their last seven games to snatch fifth place in the final league table.

But Godden, who has 30 goals to his name this season, believes Ebbsfleet have the quality to come through the two-legged tie and reach next Saturday's promotion final.

Matt Godden gets the wrong side of Eastbourne captain Craig Stone Picture: Ruth Cuerden
Matt Godden gets the wrong side of Eastbourne captain Craig Stone Picture: Ruth Cuerden

He said: "It’s going to be difficult because of the run they’ve been on. It’s going to be one hell of a tie but we’ll go there full of confidence. We turned them over at their place in December.

"We’ll have a game plan. We like to play, they like to play. The game here at the start of the season was very open, 2-0 to them in the first half and we came back to 2-2 and should have won it.

"It’ll be an open game, a great game and hopefully we’ll take a good following down there.

"We do need the fans behind us, making as much noise as they can.

"Look at the Chelmsford game. I know it was Community Day but that was one of the best atmospheres, when the goals went in, that I’ve ever witnessed here in my time on loan and last year.

"If the fans get right behind us and make as much noise as they can, it’s going to spur us on. It will give you an extra 10%."

Matt Godden scored 30 goals for Ebbsfleet in 2015/16 Picture: Andy Payton
Matt Godden scored 30 goals for Ebbsfleet in 2015/16 Picture: Andy Payton

Godden is looking to score against Whitehawk for the third time this season.

He came off the bench at half-time in August and netted the first Fleet goal as they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in a pulsating encounter at Stonebridge Road.

Godden then scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at the Enclosed Ground in December.

He said: "I was disappointed to be on the bench (in the home game) so when I came on, I thought ‘right, make my mark now’ and it was the first game I actually played up front, so I was buzzing when I came on.

"If you look at our squad and our strength in depth, we’ve got more than enough to turn them over.

"We’ll respect them because for anyone to go on a seven-game unbeaten run and six of those be wins, you have to respect them but we’ll have full confidence going into the game.

"With our away record, only losing one or two throughout the year and them coming fairly recently, we’ll go there full of confidence and bring them back here in front of the best part of a full house.

"It’ll be tight but I think we’ll get the job done."

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