Ebbsfleet remain in the Blue Square Premier relegation mire after handing Kettering the points at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night.

Peter Holmes and recalled Darius Charles had gone close for Fleet before a defensive lapse by Craig Easton let in James Dance to fire low past Lance Cronin to open the scoring after half an hour.

Fleet's frustration grew after debutant Moses Ashikodi drove into the box and won a penalty on 36 minutes, only for Holmes to see his spot-kick saved by Nathan Abbey.

Holmes and Ashikodi went close to a leveller before the break but five minutes after the restart Ashikodi was felled in the box by ex-Spurs defender Alton Thelwell and this time stepped up himself to score his first goal for the club.

However parity only last 10 minutes as Charles inexplicably attempted a backpass to Cronin, only to play the ball to the feet of Jean-Paul Marna who had been in an offside position.

The striker rounded Cronin to score easily and despite Scott Ginty having an equaliser ruled-out for handball, the Poppies held on.