Michael West marked his return from a year-long injury nightmare with a stoppage-time goal for Ebbsfleet against Whitehawk on Good Friday.

West, who suffered serious knee ligament damage playing at Whitehawk in March 2014, came on for the last 13 minutes and scored with a header to make it a dream return after more than 12 months of pain and frustration.

Two goals from Matt Godden had put the Fleet in a commanding position but it was West's late contribution which stole the show.

West was one of two players back in the Fleet squad after a long-term injury, with left-back Aiden Palmer starting his first game for almost four months.

Former Fleet defender Osei Sankoka captained Whitehawk although the match came too soon for Whitehawk's Paul Lorraine, still a firm favourite at Stonebridge Road, who is still recovering from a serious knee injury.

It really was a day for reunions, with ex-Fleet players Billy Bricknell, Anthony Cook and Daryl McMahon also watching on from the stands. All five were in the squad for last season's play-off final against Dover Athletic.

Whitehawk played most of the football in the first half, with some of their inter-passing in the Ebbsfleet half particularly easy on the eye.

Brandon Hall saved well from Jake Robinson at his near post and then watched a Sergio Torres effort from the edge of the box fly narrowly wide.

The home side received a let-off when Danny Mills got his head to a Scott Neilson free-kick at the back post. Mills should have scored but he failed to hit the target from a couple of yards out.

Mills was then allowed to run 40 yards down the left flank but his shot was poor and the ball got stuck under the body of Hall, who grabbed it at the second attempt.

The home crowd came to life when Pa Saikou Kujabi shoved Godden to the deck inside the Whitehawk box. But despite the big shouts from the Fleet supporters and players, referee Adrian Quelch said no penalty.

Whitehawk, though, were bossing the game and Hall was called into action again to save from Robinson.

It was therefore against the run of play that Ebbsfleet took the lead on 15 minutes.

Luke Rooney, making his home debut, started the move which led to the goal with a brilliant crossfield pass from left to right. His ball sent Godden racing down the right and after an interchange with Adam Cunnnington, Godden planted a fine volley beyond goalkeeper Craig Ross.

That goal seemed to give the Fleet confidence and they started to show their quality, with Kedwell, Cunnington and Godden linking up nicely at times.

Kelvin Langmead got his head to a Matt Fish corner from the right but Ross pulled off a terrific save to his left, leaving Langmead with his head in his hands.

The Hawks broke and almost equalised through Robinson, who curled a shot across Hall and wide, before Ross saved from Kedwell at the other end.

Whitehawk finished the half strongly. Sam Deering's cross-shot from the left flashed wide, although Hall looked to have it covered, before Torres saw a volley deflected behind for a corner.

Hall misjudged a cross from Neilson, which bounced off the top of the crossbar, and the visitors rattled the woodwork again before the break. Robinson's superb free-kick crashed off the post, hit Hall and bounced to safety.

The visitors would have felt aggrieved to go into half-time a goal, and things got even worse for them nine minutes into the second period. A defensive error saw the ball run to Godden at the back post and he improvised a neat close-range finish beyond Ross to make it 2-0.

Whitehawk were not proving nearly as effective as they had in the first period, although Mills had an effort headed off the line by Godden before Deering embarked on a mazy run, beating three Fleet players and lashing a shot just over.

Huge cheers greeted the introduction of West with just over 10 minutes left although a hush fell around the ground when Cunnington went down heavily in the centre circle moments later and hobbled to the sidelines. The target man was able to come back on but he was substituted five minutes from the end.

This looked like a routine Ebbsfleet win, and probably their best result at home in the league this season, but West ensured it finished with a touch of romance.

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Fish, Langmead (Acheampong 43mins), Bonner, Palmer, Godden (West 77mins), T Lewis, S Lewis, Rooney, Kedwell, Cunnington (Marsh 85mins). Subs not used: Turner, Rance.

Whitehawk: Ross, Arnold, Deering, Saikou Kujabi, Sankofa (Hamilton 52mins), Cadmore, Kissock, Torres, Robinson (Gargan 69mins), Mills, Neilson (Mafoko 77mins). Subs not used: Ijaha, Abdulla.

Attendance: 1,002.