Ebbsfleet boss Garry Hill has explained why goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore was left out of the squad to face Notts County on Saturday.

Ashmore, the Fleet's player-of-the-year in each of the last two seasons, was replaced between the posts by new signing Jordan Holmes.

Having started their first five games in the National League, Ashmore didn't even make the bench for the 2-2 draw.

The signing of ex-Bournemouth keeper Holmes was announced just 60 minutes before the game.

Hill said: "As far as I'm concerned with Nathan Ashmore, he's not fit. That's all I would say on that at the moment.

"His performances haven't been good enough over the first five games.

"People have seen the games as well as I have and I've had to make a decision, which you do as a football manager.

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"I've made that decision and on the day, I don't put the goals down to the goalkeeper.

"I thought his kicking was very good, he looked comfortable and we've gone about our job.

"We've picked a formation and picked a team and I think, over the 90 minutes, it was very encouraging in respect of not only the team that was selected but we were still in a position to be brave, to try and go to win the game with three forwards over the last 15 minutes and on another day, we might have got that break."

Ashmore had his say by posting a tweet four minutes before kick-off.

Ashmore's future at the club would appear to be in doubt but Hill stressed: "Nathan Ashmore's under contract at the club.

"It's the same with any player. Competition, the right way, is healthy so a reaction's a very important thing with any player at a football club.

"It's not (a decision I took lightly) but I have to analyse certain things.

"My view is the goalkeeper hasn't played very well, I don't think he's fit and I made the decision to do what I had to do."

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