Ebbsfleet picked up their first point of the season on Monday at Braintree in the National League.

There was little between the teams although the Fleet had the better of the second half and had two glorious chances to claim their first win.

For the second game running, Ebbsfleet boss Danny Searle made five changes on the back of Saturday’s 3-0 home reverse to Woking.

It was a cagey first half, most notable for another forward injury to Ebbsfleet.

Giles Phillips’ ball over the top sent Dominic Samuel through after four minutes. Former Maidstone keeper Lucas Covolan came rushing out and made contact with the Fleet man as he attempted to clear. Referee Lauren Impey decided it was not a foul - and an inevitable red card - but Samuel was unable to continue and was replaced by Dominic Poleon after being helped off.

Braintree’s Chay Cooper had already sliced an early attempt wide but the Fleet were relatively untroubled with Kyrell Lisbie and Inih Effiong both having shots blocked.

Ebbsfleet took their time to grow into the game but a swift move midway through the half nearly fashioned a chance only for Lewis Page to overhit his cross having linked up well with Poleon and Greg Cundle.

Braintree’s only tactic was to aim for the tall Effiong, Ebbsfleet didn’t have the same luxury with Poleon their sole forward. But the Fleet’s leading scorer nearly fashioned a chance on the stroke of half-time as he outmuscled his marker before setting up Jim Kellermann. He fed Wes Fonguck on the edge of the area but his 20-yard right-foot shot went harmlessly over the bar.

By the break, neither keeper had been called into serious action.

They were both called into early saves at the start of the second half but Cooper for Braintree, and the Fleet’s Greg Cundle lacked sufficient power behind their shots.

Ebbsfleet were warming to their task, they were the more threatening and Jim Kellermann forced a save from Covolan after meeting Poleon’s lay-off in the box.

Braintree made a double change just after the hour, introducing John Akinde who was featuring against his former club for the first time in a competitive game.

The home side went closest on 66 minutes when Marley Miranda sent a right-foot rocket crashing against the bar from the angle of the penalty area.

Within a minute, the Fleet should have been ahead as Poleon timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap but with just Covolan to beat, he blazed his right-foot shot over the bar.

Poleon had another great chance with seven minutes left, played in by substitute Franklin Domi, but keeper Covolan was out smartly to block his low shot.

Akinde set up Miranda with two minutes left but he dragged his left-foot shot harmlessly wide.

Braintree: Covolan, Grimwood, Clampin, Langston, Annesley (Fyfield 77mins), Vennings, Robinson (Lambe 63mins), Miranda, Effiong (Akinde 63mins), Lisbie (Blackwell 85mins), Cooper (Powell 73mins).

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Phillips, Dallison, Cordner, Page, Tanga, Kellermann (Domi 81mins), Wright, Fonguck (Edser 68mins), Cundle, Samuel (Poleon 8mins). Subs not used: Berry, O’Neill, Edser, Chapman, Tanner.

Referee: Lauren Impey.

Attendance: 1,313 (164 away).