Two goals each from Charlie Sheringham and Billy Bricknell fired Ebbsfleet to a much-needed win over 10-man St Albans on Saturday.

Sheringham's double had the Fleet 2-0 up at half-time, although Steve Wales pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half.

However, when St Albans had a man sent off, it was the signal for the floodgates to open and Bricknell struck twice to put the result beyond doubt.

Steve Brown's side, and Sheringham in particular, might have scored plenty more on a day which could prove the catalyst for Ebbsfleet's title charge to really get going.

Ebbsfleet's line-up bore four changes from the team which started at Basingstoke a week earlier. Right-back Chris Sessegnon's hamstring injury ruled him out but rather than recall Aiden Palmer, Fleet boss Brown handed Shane Huke his first start of the season.

Dean Rance played for the first time since his red card in the play-off semi-final at Bromley, having struggled with a knee injury during pre-season. Rance partnered Daryl McMahon in central midfield, with Matt Johnson and Tommy Fraser dropped to the bench.

In attack, Sheringham took the place of Matt Godden.

There were two changes to the St Albans side which lost 4-2 at home to Sutton. In came Charlie Gorman, a new loan signing from Welling, and Tom Ward, with Darren Locke and former Welling captain Lee Clarke making way.

Ebbsfleet, backed noisily from the first whistle, took the lead on 13 minutes.

The goal stemmed from Bricknell's persistence down the right-hand side, the striker stealing the ball from Ben Martin, who was then booked when he brought Bricknell down just outside the box.

Anthony Cook played a quick free-kick to McMahon, whose shot was deflected behind. McMahon took the corner himself from the Fleet left and Sheringham rose superbly to head the ball powerfully past former Ebbsfleet keeper Joe Welch.

Sheringham almost doubled his tally moments later, glancing another McMahon corner across the face of goal. St Albans were struggling every time Ebbsfleet swung a set-piece into the box, with Huke, Anthony Acheampong, Kenny Clark and Sheringham all posing an aerial threat.

It was no surprise, therefore, when another cross led to the Fleet going 2-0 up just after the half-hour.

McMahon curled a left-wing free-kick to the back post, Clark turned the ball into Sheringham's path and he smashed it into the back of the net.

The visitors' best chance of the first half was wasted by Sean Shields, who turned Wales' cross tamely into the gloves of Preston Edwards.

Welch was busy in the moments just before the interval. Cook cut in from the left and curled a wonderful ball onto the head of Bricknell, who watched in disbelief as Welch got fingertips to his goalbound effort.

The St Albans keeper then got down at his near post to keep out an Alex Osborn strike, before palming a fierce Cook drive behind on the stroke of half-time.

Ebbsfleet looked comfortable - but their lead was halved four minutes after the restart. John Frendo's header came back off the crossbar and Wales reacted quickest to knock in the rebound.

That goal momentarily rocked the home side. St Albans substitute Geoff Mitchell drilled a shot just wide and Edwards then had to deal with a Wales shot.

But the away side's new-found attacking intent meant there were gaps for Ebbsfleet to exploit. Huke played the ball out of defence and Sheringham timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, although Welch stood tall to beat out his powerful strike.

When Cook floated over an enticing cross from the left, Sheringham couldn't quite generate the power with his header and Rance lashed the loose ball high over the bar.

St Albans simply couldn't cope with Sheringham's intelligent runs. A perfect pass from Osborn bisected the Saints defence and Sheringham only had Welch to beat, but he rolled the ball wide.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in bizarre circumstances. David Keenleyside, booked for entering the field of play without permission, then picked up a second yellow card - less than a minute later - for a bad tackle.

St Albans, who were already struggling, promptly collapsed.

Bricknell was played clean through and he made no mistake with a cool finish to make it 3-1. Sheringham had headed over moments earlier and Bricknell almost doubled his tally with a close effort which St Albans somehow scrambled off the line.

McMahon and Cook lashed shots over as the red shirts poured forward.

And the crowd were cheering yet again when Cook's free-kick was headed back across goal by unmarked substitute Godden for Bricknell to help himself to a second.

Godden almost got in on the act when Welch turned his shot behind.

Then, with Cook, Godden and Bricknell almost falling over each other in their desperation to score, Sheringham poked the ball home - only for referee Constantine Hatzidakis to disallow his effort for an apparent handball.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Huke, Acheampong, Clark, Howe, Osborn (Godden 66mins), Rance (Fraser 77mins), McMahon (Johnson 81mins), Cook, Sheringham, Bricknell. Subs not used: Palmer, Hall.

St Albans: Welch, Kyriacou, Chappell, Green (Mitchell 46mins), Martin, Ward, Gorman (Keenleyside 60mins), Comley, Frendo (Clarke 78mins), Shields, Wales. Subs not used: Pires, Bola.

Attendance: 1,034.