MARK COUSINS admits the doubters at Ebbsfleet United had to be persuaded they could pull off an unlikely bid for survival following a miserable first half of the season.
The Fleet secured National League safety last weekend with a goalless draw at Boreham Wood which sent the hosts down, completing an impressive turnaround under manager Danny Searle.
The former Aldershot boss was appointed permanently in February following an interim spell and kept the Kent side up on a tense final day, his team staying up by two points and two places after a battling performance.
Cousins made great saves from substitutes Angelo Balanta and Kwesi Appiah as Ebbsfleet held on and the ex-Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper admitted it had been a season of two halves after the exit of previous manager Dennis Kutrieb - the man who led them to promotion last term.
Searle's influence was clear as he kept Ebbsfleet cool, calm and collected for a fraught final day.
Denne historien er fra April 28, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 28, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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CRAIG'S BOOSTS
MANAGERIAL stalwart Craig Edwards is back in charge of Barking – 23 years after he left!
LENNIE GETS THE LOVE
VETERAN caretaker chief Lennie Lawrence says he is “excited” to be handed the reins at Hartlepool United permanently – just a few weeks before his 77th birthday!
MOTORS FEELS LIKE HOLMES!
WHEN he was younger, Danny Holmes played video games that simulated being a football manager.
REES HITS FAB FOUR AS TOWN ROMP IT
RICARDO REES struck four times to help Merthyr Town maintain their spot at the top of the table with a dominant home win against play-off chasing Havant & Waterlooville.
DULWICH DISPLAY DELIGHTS COACHES
GOALS from Danny Mills, Luke Wanadio and Lorenzo’s stoppage-time finish fired Dulwich Hamlet to a comfortable win over fellow play-off hopefuls Potters Bar Town, though the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.
ANCHORS A RAPID
ASHTON UNITED hit two goals in two minutes to come from behind to win at Stockton Town.
SEAGULLS KEEP THE HEAT ON ROMANS
BATH City were made to pay for their mistakes by high-flying Weston-super-Mare.
CLINICAL COLEMAN KEEN AS MUSTARD
CIAN COLEMAN’S hat-trick lifted Buxton to their highest league position of the season as they became the latest side to frustrate Scunthorpe.
KEV SEES RED IN REE PANT!
SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher hit out at referee Abigail Byrne following his side’s defeat to Yeovil Town at Roots Hall.
MARVEL MATTY DENIES MOORS
BOTH managers insisted their teams deserved more after Altrincham came from behind to steal a point in a six-goal thriller at Solihull Moors.
