Stefan Bailey and two-goal Moses Ashikodi kept Ebbsfleet United's Blue Square Premier survival hopes alive as they defeated fellow strugglers Eastbourne Borough 3-2 at Stonebridge Road on Easter Monday.

Knowing the importance of three points, the Fleet were on top from the start and took the lead after seven minutes when midfielder Bailey, pictured, fired a low shot past Borough keeper Danny Knowles from 30 yards.

Borough, however, came out strongly after the break and equalised within three minutes through a superb strike from Matt Crabb.

The visitors' equaliser forced a response from Ebbsfleet as Ashikodi put them back in front in the 63rd minute before grabbing his second a minute later.

Joey Benjamin pulled a goal back but Eastbourne wasted a great chance to salvage a point when Simon Weatherstone saw his 81st-minute penalty saved by Lance Cronin after Weatherstone had been brought down by Dean Pooley, who received a straight red card.

Picture: Chester Leader