FA Trophy
From FleetWiki
The Football Association Trophy, typically just called the FA Trophy, is a cup competition for competed by clubs from the first four steps of the National League. Each round is single legged except in the case of a draw when there is a replay with the game played at the ground of the away team. The final of the FA Trophy is played at Wembley Stadium. If the final is not won in normal time it goes to extra time and if still undecided goes to penalties. Conference National clubs enter in the first round proper following a preliminary round and three qualifying rounds.
The trophy was started in the season 1969/70 in order to give non-league clubs a realistic chance of playing a Wembley Final. The Fleet will appear in the FA Trophy final for the first time ever on 10 May 2008, the club is facing Torquay United for the silverware.
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[edit] Ebbsfleet's 2007/08 victory
Ebbsfleet won their first ever national trophy with a 1-0 victory over Torquay United in Wembley Stadium on the 10th May 2008. Chris McPhee scored the winning goal just before half time infront of 40,186 people, the majority of whom were supporting Ebbsfleet in the cup's second highest ever attendence. McPhee had failed to score a penalty earlier in the game but finished a simple tap-in after John Akinde dispossessed Torquay United defender Chris Todd on the byline before playing in a low cross across the Torquay six yard box.
Ebbsfleet had made the final following difficult away ties against play-off contenders Burton Albion where the fleet forced a replay at Stonebridge Road. The replay was won 1-0 to set up a two legged semi final against league leaders and favourites Aldershot Town. The home leg played first was won 3-1 thanks to two Chris McPhee penatlies and a scrappy Paul McCarthy finish. The away leg finished in a 1-1 draw following a tense end after Aldershot took the lead, but a late Michael Bostwick goal on was enough to secure a place in the final.
[edit] Ebbsfleet's route to the final
| Round | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Round | Sat 15th Dec | Ebbsfleet 4-1 Carshalton Athletic |
| 2nd Round | Sat 12th Jan | Dorchester Town 0-2 Ebbsfleet |
| 3rd Round | Sat 2nd Feb | Ebbsfleet 1-0 Weymouth |
| Quarter Final | Sat 23rd Feb | Burton Albion 0-0 Ebbsfleet |
| Quarter Final replay | Tue 26th Feb | Ebbsfleet 1-0 Burton Albion |
| Semi Final 1st leg | Sat 8th Mar | Ebbsfleet 3-1 Aldershot Town |
| Semi Final 2nd leg | Sat 15th Mar | Aldershot Town 1-1 Ebbsfleet |
| Final | Sat 10th May | Ebbsfleet 1-0 Torquay United |
[edit] Ebbsfleet Competition Record
recent competitions (since 2000/01)
| Season | Ebbsfleet Round Reached | |
|---|---|---|
| 2007/08 | Winners | Ebbsfleet 1-0 Torquay United |
| 2006/07 | Quarter Final | Northwich Victoria 3-0 Gravesend |
| 2005/06 | 2nd Round | Boreham Wood 3-1 Gravesend |
| 2004/05 | Quarter Final replay | Gravesend 2-3 Bishop's Stortford |
| 2003/04 | 3rd Round replay | Weston-Super-Mare 1-0 Gravesend |
| 2002/03 | 3rd Round | Dover Athletic 1-0 Gravesend |
| 2001/02 | 5th Round | Gravesend 0-2 Stalybridge Celtic |
| 2000/01 | 1st Round | Gravesend 0-1 Hasting Town |
Records in FA Trophy proper
| Record | |
|---|---|
| Best Performance | Winners (2007/08) |
| Biggest Win | 4-1 v Carshalton Athletic home, 1st Round, 2007/08 |
| Biggest Defeat | 1-5 v Cheltenham Town away, 1st Round replay, 1990/91 |
