Ebbsfleet lost their unbeaten away record in 2010 with defeat at play-off chasing Crawley in Blue Square Premier on Saturday.

Substitute Michael Malcolm netted the only goal of the game only two minutes after coming off the bench.

A cross to the far post fell to the unmarked Malcolm and he gave Fleet keeper Lance Cronin no chance from six yards out after 75 minutes.

There had been little to choose between the teams before the goal but, after Malcolm’s strike, the home side looked the more likely to add to their tally.

It was no surprise when they got a second after Thomas Pinault found Charlie Ademeno who took the ball away from Leon Crooks and applied a good finish on 86 minutes.

With a minute to go, the prolific Moses Ashikodi netted his sixth goal in six games for Fleet from a free-kick but they couldn’t snatch an equaliser.