Ebbsfleet United returned to winning ways at home thanks to an impressive first half performance against Gosport.

The Fleet’s third consecutive home match marked the end of an action- filled week for the North Kent club. After a goalless draw which saw four red cards the previous Saturday, the National League South leaders continued their inconsistent form at Stonebridge Road with a frustrating 2-2 draw against Havant and Waterlooville.

Daryl McMahon made two changes from the midweek draw, these came in goal with new signing Nathan Ashmore starting against the club he left just three days previously. The other change came at full back with Bryan Van Den Bogaert taking the place of Matt Fish, which forced Joe Howe across to right back.

They came up against a side who has only won one of their six games against Kent Sides this season. Gosport began the day fourth in the table. After seeing Ashmore leave for Ebbsfleet they had their own debutant in goal, George Legg signed for Boro on loan from Reading. The Hampshire club headed east looking for points to keep them in the playoff places whilst looking to return the loss the Fleet gave them earlier in the season.

After a tight opening ten minutes it was the hosts with the first real chance of the game. A quick attack from the hosts resulted in Danny Kedwell’s cross being deflected wide, but from the resulting corner Matt Godden headed Stewart Lewis’ set piece over. Godden was forced off moments after due to injury, allowing Sam Deering to make his debut.

Just five minutes later the hosts were able to open the scoring. Lewis was tripped in his own half allowing Ebbsfleet to win possession back. A swift move down the left wing allowed Danny Kedwell to find Lewis who was tripped in the area.

After the referee pointed to the spot Kedwell stepped up and hit a powerful effort past George Legg.

The hosts were soon controlling the game, and they doubled their lead on twenty three minutes when a short corner came to the feet of John Paul Kissock in space. The midfielder his a shot which was going wide, only for it to take a deflection on the way through the area before nestling in the bottom corner of the goal.

Nathan Ashmore had very little to do in the opening thirty minutes of his Ebbsfleet career, but he was called into action twice with just under half an hour gone. First he needed to get down low to deny Justin Bennett’s effort across gal and moments after the goalkeeper’s clearance hit Rory Williams, forcing the ex Havant keeper to track back and claw the ball off the line.

He was forced into action again soon after. Despite his defenders not being able to clear the initial attack from Gosport, they were able to smother George Baker, forcing the winger to get a weak shot away which Ashmore kept out before the danger was cleared by Joe Howe.

The hosts then created pressure for themselves. Soon after Sam Deering’s long range effort was saved, Aaron McLean found a way through on goal, only for his shot across goal to roll inches wide, meaning the hosts went into half time with a two goal lead.

Ten minutes into the second period it was Gosport who had the first chance of the half. After winning a free kick in midfield the visitors pushed through Tom Bonner, allowing Justin Bennett a chance to shoot inside the area. Unfortunately for hin the big frame of Nathan Ashmore was able to deny the attacker.

A slow second half ensued. With Ebbsfleet having controlled the game in the first haf they seemed content to absorb pressure and keep their clean sheet. They still pushed forward when the oppertunnity came though. Aaron McLean had chances, but either couldn’t remain onside or get enough space to create a decent shot, and with just over fifteen minutes remaining John Paul Kissock put a looping header over.

The game soon came alive again after a couple of rough challenges. The hosts went on to search for a third goal, and they nearly found it when Mclean put a high pass across to Danny Kedwell at the far post. Kedwell did well to hit a controlled volley back across goal into the path of Sam Deering who was inches off from getting his head to the ball.

Gosport soon worked their way back into the game, and after Justin Bennett’s long range effort flew over, Brett Poate setup Ben Harding but the midfielder couldn’t connect properly with the ball as his effort looped over.

With time running out, Ebbsfleet had the final chance of the match when, after doing well to bring the ball down, Danny Kedwell put a long ball through to Charlie Sheringham, but the substitute was unable to keep his placed shot on target, meaning the result stayed 2-0 as time ran out.

After the game the Fleet’s manager Daryl McMahon was quick to emphasise the importance of such a strong performance early in the game; “Sometimes it just clicks for you and you get a bit of luck. If that penalty wasn’t a penalty we may have gone on a bit longer, people may have got a bit more restless but we got the goal early and that settles people down.

“We needed to sit back in the second half, when they’re getting in behind its only natural to sit back, but to be fair Nathan [Ashmore] did well to keep them pushed up the pitch”.

That result keeps the Fleet eleven points clear at the top of the National League South table, they now need to prepare for their second midweek game in as many weeks when they travel to Maidenhead United before they make the long trip west to face Bath City next Saturday.

Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore, Howe, Van Den Bogaert, Lewis, Acheampong, Bonner, Rance, Godden (Deering), Kedwell, McLean Sheringham, Kissock

Subs not used: Clark, Miles, Parkes

Gosport Borough: Legg, Cuthbertson, Poate, Carter, Pearce, Woodford, Barker (Wilde), Harding, Williams, Bennett, Wooden (Jerrard)

Subs not used: Ryan, Brice, May

Attendance: 932

Pictures supplied by www.edboyenphotos.co.uk