Next Saturday, Rovers travel east of London to play Ebbsfleet United in the 4th round of the FA Trophy at their Stonebridge Road Stadium. This is a ground where we've failed to score on our last 2 visits; a 0--0 draw last season in the National League, and a 1--0 defeat in the FA Trophy in 2015.
The Fleet are currently 9th in the National League South table, although they have at least 1 game in hand on all the teams ahead of them. They won the FA Trophy in 2008, but before this season their more recent record in the competition has not been good, going out at the first time of asking in the previous 4 attempts. They like a penalty shoot-out though, featuring in 5 in the last 6 years, winning 2, losing 3.
There is no extra time and there are no replays in the FA Trophy this season, so if scores are level at full time, it is straight to a penalty shoot-out. In our predictions competition, if you predict a draw, there is a bonus point for also predicting the outcome of the shoot-out (2 options; Rovers win, Rovers lose).
Ricardo Rees played for Merthyr Town in the 2nd round of this competition, so should be cup tied for this game. He scored a penalty to give Merthyr the lead against Hanwell Town before they eventually lost 2--3.
