Ebbsfleet made it five wins in succession with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Basingstoke Town on Saturday afternoon.

Michael Thalassitis’ second half header won the day on Fleet’s cut price football for a fiver day and the fans would be impressed with the football on show.

With Daryl McMahon pulling the strings in the middle of the park, spraying the ball left and right and the impressive Anthony Cook on the left wing, the Fleet were well in charge in the opening exchanges with shots from Ben May, Aiden Palmer and Michael Thalassitis all being well blocked by the away defence.

Basingstoke, however almost took the lead with their first meaningful attack. Manny Williams bought the ball down just inside the centre circle before driving at the backing off Paul Lorraine and letting fly with a shot from 30 odd yards which cannoned off Preston Edwards right hand post with the keeper well beaten.

Ebbsfleet were still bright in attack and soon after, Cooks left sided cross found Alex Osborn who chested down to Thalassitis who beat one defender before forcing a regulation save from ex Dartford keeper Louis Wells in the Basingstoke goal.

Basingstoke were lacking going forward with their only option being the long diagonal ball to the big number 9 Robbie Matthews who was winning the majority of flick ons to no avail.

The quality of the game deteriorated towards the end of the first half with both teams defending well although Anthony Cook’s cross come shot almost deceived the goalkeeper who made an instinctive save to his left.

With the half coming to an end, Basingstoke had one more great chance when good hold up play by Matthews eventually slipped in another former Dart in Adam Green whose cross from the byline found Nathan Smart 8 yards out but the midfielder took too long to get his shot away and the chance went with the half time whistle.

The second half started slowly with both teams wasting possession freely but with the first bit of quality, Ebbsfleet took the lead on 52 minutes. Daryl Mcmahon once again finding Cook on the left with a fine pass who bamboozled the right back Rob Rice with feints and shimmys before standing a cross to the back post where Thalassitis was waiting to plant the ball back across the keeper and into the net with a fine header.

The goal gave Ebbsfleet the confidence to keep attacking and soon after the restart Osborn chipped over after a low cross from the right when maybe putting his foot through it would have been the better option.

Basingstoke were really struggling to create anything and both Cook and Thalassitis went close for Ebbsfleet with both shooting just wide.

With just under 20 minutes left Basingstoke should have equalised when Green’s free kick from the right found Matthews at the back post whose knock down found Williams 5 yards out in acres of space but the forward inexplicably shot over.

Ebbsfleet were still having the majority of the play and hit the bar with just over 10 minutes remaining, when Osborn’s volley from a long diagonal free kick from the left was struck ‘Van Bastenesque ‘ by the right winger against the bar.

One more chance fell for the visitors to equalise late on when an 88th minute free kick on the edge of the area forced a flying save from Preston Edwards. The final whistle blew soon after and Ebbsfleet continued their impressive form.

Attendance: 913

Ebbsfleet United: Edwards, Sessegnon, Palmer, Mcmahon ( Corcoran 90), Lorraine c, Sankofa, Osborn, Rance, May, Thallassitis ( Bricknell 74), Cook.

Subs not used: Howe, Hall, Long.

Basingstoke Town: Wells, Rice( Holder-spooner 81), Green, Barrett, Gasson, Ray, Daly c, Smart, Matthews, Williams, Dunn.

Subs not used: Jenkinson, Ibe, Adams, Mcdonnell

Man of the match : Daryl McMahon

Photos courtesy of Martin Gibson.