Danny Kedwell has described the sweet feeling of scoring against Maidstone more than a year on from his saved penalty in the play-off final.

Kedwell scored two penalties in that game, a 2-2 draw at Stonebridge Road, but missed in the shootout as Stones beat their Kent rivals to a place in the National League.

But the 34-year-old banished those demons in the rematch as newly-promoted Fleet beat Maidstone 2-0 in their first home game at this level since 2013.

Kedwell powered Jack Powell's pass into the net 14 minutes from time after the midfielder had unselfishly squared from the left.

Kedwell said: "It was lovely, especially after what happened two years ago in the play-off final. It was nice to get my revenge.

"I’ve been getting stick from their fans for missing that penalty for two years so it was nice to get it and hopefully that’ll shut them up."

Casting his mind back to 2016 he said: "I was more disappointed because I scored two penalties in the game and when I was walking up, I was thinking ‘three penalties in three, it’s some going’ and it took my mind off it a bit, which I was a bit disappointed with.

"It took me a few months to get over it because I was gutted.

"Their fans never forget and they’ve been giving me stick for two years so hopefully that’s shut them up. I’ve got on the scoresheet and we’ve won 2-0.

"To be fair, in the last 20 minutes, we were the better side by a mile."

Ebbsfleet boss Daryl McMahon was delighted to see Kedwell get his goal.

"Not that I want to go back in time but what happened to him that day was cruel," McMahon said. "He was one of probably three or four players that turned up in the final for us and the rest didn’t.

"For him to score two penalties and then miss the crucial kick was cruel for what he did for us that season. He bounced back last season and he’s been outstanding for us.

"Some people think they’re winners; he is a winner. He doesn’t go hiding, doesn’t cheat, never lets his team down, he’s always honest and he’s a joy to work with."

Victory for Fleet followed their 2-2 draw at Guiseley on the first day of the season.

McMahon said: "It was a great result for us against a very good side.

"I don’t know about the performance. Probably the last half an hour, the performance was definitely better but up that it was bitty if I’m being brutally honest.

"In the last half-hour we played some really good stuff."