Ebbsfleet's Yado Mambo in action in their 1-0 FA Trophy defeat to York City

Ebbsfleet United plan to get back on track in securing Blue Square Bet Premier safety with trip to bottom side Bath City on Saturday.

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Ebbsfleet United’s hopes of repeating their FA Trophy success of four years ago were dashed on Tuesday evening as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at York City.

It was a case of third time unlucky for Liam Daish’s side, after twice seeing the tie postponed due to a frozen pitch, the first time came 12 days ago when the squad and supporters had already travelled to Bootham Crescent.

But a 48th-minute strike from Matty Blair saw the Minstermen book their place in the last eight and a trip to fellow Blue Square Bet Premier side Grimsby Town in the quarter-finals.

Fleet must now turn their focus back to the league this weekend, when they travel to basement boys Bath City and Daish has played up the importance of the fixture.

“Every game is vital but Saturday is against a team who are below us in the league, and that gives us a chance to widen the gap,” he said.

“We go to win every game, but Bath, on their own patch, will be a decent hurdle for us to overcome and get another three points.”

The Stonebridge Road side are currently nine points clear of Kettering Town, who occupy the final relegation spot, but Daish is refusing to get carried away and believes there is a lot of work still left to do between now and the end of the season.

“We just look to the next game and hopefully the next three points,” the Fleet boss added.

Figure

“There is a figure in my head that will be enough, but you never know for definite what total you will need to be safe.

“That figure could change from week to week, but we know the job at hand is going to be a difficult one.”

Saturday’s postponed home league game against Alfreton Town saw the club miss out on vital revenue.

The tie has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 27, but the lack of Saturday home games is a source of frustration for Daish.

“Saturday was a disappointing one to lose,” he said. “We need more Saturday home games and for reasons beyond our control we have not had the amount we need.

“But it is something we can do little about now, we just have to get on with it.”

The home game against Wrexham has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 13, with the tie originally postponed becaue of Fleet’s involvement in the Trophy.

They are on the road again next Tuesday, when they make the trip to league leaders Fleetwood Town.

Meanwhile, Michael West’s hernia operation on Monday was judged a success and the forward faces a further three-to-four weeks on the sidelines before he can make a return.

Goalkeeper Joe Welch has extended his loan at Blue Square Bet South side neighbours Bromley for a second month. He will be at Hayes Lane until March 13.