It was a tale of three penalties as Ebbsfleet went down to high-flying Southport in Blue Square Bet Premier on Saturday.

The game kicked-off an hour early due to the floodlight problems but that did little to help the crowd with only 907 making their way to Stonebridge Road.

Tony Gray took all three penalties for the visitors, having missed the first one, he scored the next two - which included the winner just two minutes from time.

Gray hit the post in the 17th minute when he took advantage of an error by keeper Lance Cronin (pictured) and it could have proved costly as the Fleet took the lead 11 minutes later.

Ricky Shakes delivered an excellent cross for on-loan Reading striker Gozie Ugwu, who headed home at the far post.

Southport had an immediate chance to equalise when Gray was fouled in the box but he saw his spot-kick saved by Cronin.

The pair did battle again in the 37th minute after Cronin this time committed the foul but Gray tucked away the spot-kick to send the teams in level at half-time.

Shakes hit the bar for the Fleet in the second half and then went even closer but his goalbound effort was turned in by Ugwu, who was ruled offside.

The Fleet, who lost Neil Barrett to injury in the second half, appeared to have claimed a deserved point but Craig Stone fouled Gray with two minutes to go and the Southport forward tucked away the winner.

Did Ebbsfleet deserve to take something from the game against Southport?