Ebbsfleet lost at home in the league for the first time since Boxing Day as they were beaten by Solihull Moors on Saturday.

The Fleet had won 10 and drawn one of their last 11 league games - albeit in the division below - after losing at home to Dartford in December 2022.

But a goal in either half from Matty Warburton was enough to sink Dennis Kutrieb’s Ebbsfleet, despite a late rally from the home side.

The Fleet made three changes from the team that won at Rochdale last weekend. Dominic Poloen was back from suspension, Chris Solly returned from injury and Omari Sterling-James also started, with Darren McQueen, Franklin Domi and Jack Wakely dropping out.

Much had been made on the opening weekend of the clampdown by referees and Aaron Bannister wasted no time in getting his cards out. Ebbsleet’s Ouss Cisse lost the ball near halfway on three minutes and promptly pulled back Jamey Osbourne before receiving a yellow card.

The returning Poleon used his pace to get on the end of Joe Martin’s ball over the top, but keeper Tommy Simkin was out smartly to save at his feet.

Martin then joined Cisse in the book, fouling Jack Stevens, who made the most of the challenge. Just four minutes later, Stevens himself was in the book after a late challenge on Solly right in front of the assistant referee.

Ebbsfleet were given a warning midway through the first half when Stevens played in Joe Newton and the former Havant wing-back saw his low shot hit the outside of the post and go wide.

Gus Mafuta then nodded over from a Jay Benn centre before Solihull went ahead six minutes before half-time as debutant Benn’s dangerous right-wing cross was headed past keeper Mark Cousins by Warburton.

The Fleet nearly responded three minutes later. Cousins’ long clearance saw Poleon try to get beyond the last defender. The referee ruled there wasn’t enough contact for a foul but the loose ball was picked up by Toby Edser who created space in the box before appearing to be tripped but again the referee was unmoved.

Ebbsfleet started the second half brightly, Josh Wright setting up Sterling-James, whose driven near-post effort was pushed behind by Simkin.

Osbourne went into the book for another foul on Solly but the game took an unwelcome twist for Ebbsfleet on 53 minutes. Greg Cundle was clearly fouled 35 yards from goal but the referee allowed play to continue and Stevens’ shot was turned in at close range by Warburton for his second goal of the game.

The Fleet immediately introduced McQueen down the right and had optimistic penalty appeals for a foul on Poleon turned down.

McQueen cut inside from the right and hit the post with 18 minutes left before Cundle’s follow-up was deflected wide of the target. Ebbsfleet got themselves back into the game from the resulting corner, Edser picking out Cundle in space and his low drive beat Simkin at his near post.

There was nearly a dream introduction to life in a Fleet shirt for striker Nathan Odokonyero but, just two minutes after coming off the bench, his header from a deep McQueen cross clipped the top of the bar.

Having had five minutes added on in the first half, the Fleet had six additional minutes to rescue a point at the death. They had a great chance on 95 minutes but substitute Billy Clifford blazed over from Clifford’s pull back.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill, Martin, Wright, Sterling-James (McQueen 54mins), Cisse (Clifford 65mins), Poleon, Cundle, Edser, Solly, Coulthirst (Odokonyero 85mins). Subs not used: Domi, White.

Solihull: Simkin, Clarke, Newton (Steadman 86mins), Osbourne (Beck 65mins), Morrison, Maycock, Warburton, Mafuta, Stevens (Brogan 74mins), Benn, Craig. Subs not used: Hall, Owen.

Referee: Aaron Bannister.

Attendance: 1,360 (35 away).