Ebbsfleet extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a hard-fought win over Maidenhead at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Goals from Matt Godden and Jordan Parkes looked to have put the Fleet in complete control at half-time but the visitors fought back and a Dave Tarpey strike was the least they deserved after the break.

However, the hosts rode their luck and clinched the points courtesy of a second goal for Godden.

John Paul Kissock was back in the Ebbsfleet team at the expense of Robbie Willmott, who dropped to the bench for the first time this season.

With no natural wide players in his starting XI, Fleet boss Daryl McMahon opted for a diamond shape in midfield. Parkes was the most advanced of the quartet, with Godden pushed up front alongside Danny Kedwell.

Maidenhead boss Alan Devonshire made two changes from the side which started Monday's 2-1 win over York Road tenants Hayes & Yeading, bringing in Mark Nisbet and Kieron Forbes for Josh Huggins and Rene Steer.

The visitors made a bright start and had early chances to take the lead.

Kenny Clark hit a clearance against Ben Wright and the former Peterborough striker got away from Clark down the left before crossing dangerously. Tarpey got on the end of it but Brandon Hall was able to turn his soft shot behind for a corner.

Hall was beaten by a Kieron Forbes volley moments later but the low strike from all of 25 yards fizzed wide of his right-hand post.

Harry Pritchard's free-kick then reached Wright, who smashed his shot into the Plough End.

It was somewhat against the run of play, therefore, that Fleet took the lead on 18 minutes.

Parkes floated over a free-kick from the left flank and Godden, left all alone at the back post, sent a cushioned volley carefully back across keeper Carl Pentney into the far corner.

That goal was the signal for the game to change.

Ebbsfleet played with a swagger, Kissock in particular almost unplayable in midfield as he matched his silky tricks and flicks with some snappy tackles. Maidenhead's players were given no rest as the diminutive playmaker buzzed around busily.

Hall, though, had to pull off an excellent save to keep his side in front. The keeper spilled Wright's long-range free-kick but redeemed himself by reacting quickly to smother Alan Massey's follow-up effort from point-blank range.

At the other end, Godden had a low shot saved by Pentney and Parkes fired a shot over as the men in red shirts began to apply the pressure.

Kedwell had a penalty shout waved away when he tumbled in the box but it mattered not as the Fleet doubled their advantage on 31 minutes.

A smart pass from Godden sent Fish overlapping down the right and when his cross fell at Parkes' feet, the midfielder kept his cool to knock in his fifth goal of the season for 2-0.

Maidenhead were wobbling now and their frustration at not making their good start pay was epitomised by a caution for Wright on the stroke of half-time. Kissock's quick feet got him away from the big striker three times on the touchline and although Wright kicked him each time, he couldn't knock the irrepressible Kissock off balance.

Referee Carl Brook had seen enough, though, and pulled out his yellow card.

Devonshire responded at the start of the second half by making a double substitution and one of the players he sent on, Sam Barrett, almost made an instant impact.

Barrett worked himself a yard of space on the edge of the box and his low shot almost evaded Hall's grasp - but the keeper got enough of a strong hand to the ball to stop anyone in a yellow short following in.

Maidenhead did halve the deficit on 57 minutes, Tarpey lashing the ball past Hall when he was left unmarked on the right-hand side of the penalty area.

That came as a real wake-up call to the home side, who had not found their rhythm since the interval.

Ryan Upward drilled a shot over and Harry Pritchard was denied by a perfectly-timed Kissock challenge just as he was about to pull the trigger and make it 2-2.

Ebbsfleet were caught sleeping in midfield again and Tarpey should have equalised when he ran through one-on-one with Hall for a second time. It looked like Hall got fingertips to Tarpey's shot, which flew over the bar, although Mr Brook gave a goal kick.

It was one-way traffic and as Barrett shot straight at Hall, the next goal looked almost certain to go Maidenhead's way - but then came a moment which changed the match again.

With Danny Haynes and Robbie Willmott waiting to come on, Fleet won a free-kick 30 yards out and manager Daryl McMahon decided to hold off making the changes.

Parkes took the set-piece and Godden scored with a glancing header - with both players substituted immediately after the goal.

The goal transformed the atmosphere and the mood of the game, with Maidenhead deflated and the Fleet suddenly buoyant again.

Adam Cunnington entered the fray with just over 10 minutes to go, replacing Kedwell who departed to a terrific ovation.

The centre-forward had one header cleared off the line and a second held by Pentney after Fish had again overlapped to good effect down the right flank.

It all got too much for Devonshire in the closing stages. After sharing one opinion too many, he was sent off by Mr Brook and trudged down the tunnel.

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Fish, Howe, S Lewis, Clark, Bonner, Rance, Parkes (Willmott 69mins), Kedwell (Cunnington 79mins), Godden (Haynes 69mins), Kissock. Subs not used: Acheampong, Miles.

Maidenhead: Pentney, Nisbet, Forbes, Upward (Walters 83mins), Massey, Inman, Tarpey, Mulley (Jenkinson 46mins), Reid (Barrett 46mins), Wright, Pritchard. Subs not used: Ferguson, Steer.

Attendance: 1,016.