Ebbsfleet 1 Cambridge United 3

Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish (pictured) took plenty of positives from his side’s display against Cambridge United on Tuesday night, despite the defeat.

The Fleet were the better side in the first half of their opening Blue Square Premier home game of the season and when they equalised three minutes after the break looked capable of going on to win the game.

But the visitors went back in front two minutes later before going on to add a third goal.

Daish said: "If we had taken two out of our four good chances in the first half it would have all been very different."

Fleet had looked bright in the opening exchanges and were unfortunate to fall a goal behind.

The home defence failed clear a Robbie Willmott corner and Chris Holroyd was able to turn the ball home from close range after 16 minutes.

Fleet were back on level terms after 48 minutes when Leon Crooks rose high above the Cambridge defence to head Ishmael Welsh’s free-kick into the net.

But their joy was short-lived when Cambridge restored their lead two minutes later when Wilmott’s low cross was met by Jai Reason who tucked the ball away.

Cambridge got a third after 72 minutes when Holyroyd headed home unchallenged from a Wilmott cross, before Will Salmon made a sliding clearance off the line to prevent Fleet losing by a greater margin.