Maidstone became the first team to beat Ebbsfleet in the league this season when Joe Healy headed the winner at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Jay Saunders' men soaked up first-half pressure and then dictated things after Healy's 55th-minute strike, seeing off a late Fleet rally to record their fifth straight win.

The travelling supporters celebrated noisily at the final whistle after claiming back the local bragging rights having lost the first meeting at the Gallagher Stadium.

Ebbsfleet came into the game on the back of their first defeat of the season, a 2-1 reverse against Chelmsford in the FA Cup, and manager Daryl McMahon made one alteration to the starting XI from that night with John Paul Kissock replacing Robbie Willmott.

The visitors, having eased through their cup tie with South Park seven days earlier, were unchanged, with Alex Flisher once again named on the bench.

Defences were on top during a first half which saw Ebbsfleet dominate possession without giving a well-organised Maidstone side too many problems.

Jordan Parkes saw two ambitious efforts fly narrowly wide from the left-hand corner of the box in the first few minutes before Tom Bonner blocked a goalbound Joe Healy effort at the other end.

From the corner which followed, Healy connected with Bobby-Joe Taylor's right-wing delivery but sent his wayward header into the Plough End.

Stones keeper Lee Worgan dived left to keep out a low Matt Godden strike following neat build-up from the Fleet, who then went close again.

Danny Kedwell met a deep cross from the left, heading the ball down for Matt Fish, whose tame left-footed shot was straight at Worgan and easily saved.

Worgan looked less assured from the next Fleet effort, a Kedwell header, but there was no red shirt on hand to capitalise inside the six-yard box when the keeper spilled the ball.

Gradually the Stones began to carry more of an attacking threat. Jack Paxman lashed a shot wide from distance and it needed a crucial touch from Fish to take Matt Bodkin's cross away from Adam Birchall at the back post.

Kissock dragged a low shot well wide for Ebbsfleet but left-back Tom Mills went much closer for Maidstone at the other end. Some of the Stones directors were on their feet as Mills' dipping shot headed for the top corner - but it flew just over.

The last opportunity of the first half went Fleet's way but Kedwell, peeling away in a crowded penalty area, couldn't hit the target with his header from a deep Parkes corner.

Maidstone made a really bright start to the second half, pushing Ebbsfleet back, and Paxman forced a corner which Taylor took and Jamie Coyle headed wide.

At the other end Fish teased over a cross with his left foot but Kedwell, sliding in at the far post, couldn't get there in time to apply the finishing touch.

But it was the visitors who hit the front on 55 minutes.

Taylor curled in a terrific free-kick from near the right-hand touchline and Healy stole in to head home from no more than a couple of yards out.

The large travelling support were jubilant and it took Ebbsfleet a while to find their feet after going behind. Stuart Lewis had a cross awkwardly palmed behind by Worgan, who then got down well to save from Robbie Willmott after he'd combined with fellow substitute Danny Haynes.

Maidstone did brilliantly to stop the home side building any momentum until the very end of the game.

Worgan beat out a Godden shot and then arched his back to tip Dean Rance's header against the bar, with Stones getting men there to clear in the scramble which followed. Godden then headed wide from Haynes' cross as the pressure mounted.

Alex Afroki should have made it 2-0 on the break but he lashed his shot over when presented with a one-on-one opportunity.

Ebbsfleet couldn't make the most of their reprieve, though, Worgan turning a Haynes effort over the bar in stoppage-time before Rance cleared the stand with the last kick of the game.

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Fish, Howe (Cunnington 86mins), S Lewis, Clark, Bonner, Rance, Parkes (Haynes 65mins), Kedwell, Godden, Kissock (Willmott 65mins). Subs not used: Acheampong, Miles.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Paxman (Rogers 74mins), Bodkin, Healy, May, Birchall (Flisher 81mins), Taylor (Akrofi 63mins). Subs not used: Watt, Bridle-Card.

Attendance: 2,157.