Finding the right formation continues to be a challenge for Ebbsfleet manager Jamie Day.

Fleet have lined up most often in a 3-5-2 shape since Day's appointment in December but they have also played 4-4-2 on several occasions.

Injury and illness among the squad prompted another change on Saturday, when the Fleet travelled to Bishop's Stortford. Day opted for a 4-1-2-1-2 system, with Dean Pooley and Welling loanee Ben Jefford as full-backs, Matt Johnson at the base of a midfield diamond and Tyrone Marsh at its head.

But, particularly in the second half, it didn't work. Ebbsfleet's play only had any width to it after Sean Shields - man-of-the-match against Staines four days earlier - came off the bench towards the end of the 1-1 draw.

Day said: "They’re still taking time to gel and we’re still trying to find the best system for the players we’ve got. Unfortunately, we’ve got to do it in game time.

"We’ve played 3-5-2, we’ve played 4-4-2 and we played a bit of a diamond on Saturday. I don’t want to keep chopping and changing it too much but they are good enough (players) to be able to deal with that.

"We didn’t just throw it on them on Saturday afternoon, we worked on a few bits and bobs.

"Everyone’s still trying to work each other out – in a good way – and that’s still going to take time.

"But if we can keep picking up results, hopefully in five or six games’ time, we’ve got a couple of wins in that and kept the run going, I think we’re going to be in a good position where the boys have gelled.

"Hopefully then we’re in a position to kick on and get in the play-offs."

Ebbsfleet are six points adrift of the top-five ahead of Tuesday's home game against second-placed Bromley.

Day said: "People, because we’ve made signings, expect us to go and win 3-0 and 4-0 every week and that’s never going to happen. I look at the boys and they still, in my opinion, need a bit more playing time to gel. That’s going to take time.

"We’ve got 10 players that we’ve thrown together in four or five weeks and they’re still taking time to work each other out individually and as a group.

"I’m happy with where we’re at and we know what we need to do so we’ll keep working hard to achieve that."