More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Ebbsfleet have signed goalkeeper Jordan Holmes on a permanent contract.
The Australian made his Fleet debut against Notts County last month and has been ever-present since.
Holmes has replaced Nathan Ashmore between the posts and boss Garry Hill is delighted with his new No.1.
"He's been very good," said Hill after the 1-1 draw against Eastleigh on Saturday.
"His kicking is very good. You see their keeper kicking into a strong wind and at the start of the second half, he was barely reaching the halfway line so it does allow you to get up the pitch.
"He makes his decisions, he's very positive, he's very confident and he's come into a backline which is still looking for that first clean sheet but there's been a great deal of confidence installed in the players in front of him by the performances he's giving at the moment in goal.
"He'll be the same as everyone, looking for that first clean sheet but we've been very fortunate to sign a new goalkeeper on contract, 22 years of age and he certainly plays with a lot of confidence."
Hill described Ebbsfleet's first-half display against Eastleigh as their best performance of the season.
They led 1-0 thanks to an Alex Reid strike and should have been further ahead by the time Tyrone Barnett equalised.
Hill said: "It was the best 45 minutes we've played in the league this season.
"We were very strong, we were very competitive, we deservedly were in front 1-0 at half-time and on another day it could have been 2-0.
"Jordan didn't have too much to do but what he had to do, he did well. His kicking is a big factor for us and I thought we were playing some very good football at times.
"The warning signs were there before we got the goal - and it was a very good goal, the way it was worked and put across to the far post.
"It was nice to see an Ebbsfleet player coming in and getting on the end of it instead of an opposing player.
"We were very positive and upbeat and it was a case of not sitting back at the start of the second half and inviting them on.
"But when you are on top in this league, you've got to kill the game off and we had two or three very good opportunities."
Reid and James Ball had chances to double the lead before referee Richard Hulme made a controversial penalty call against the Fleet.
He decided Myles Weston had dived after beating his man and bursting into the box, although replays show the winger being manhandled.
Hill said: "From where I was, Myles Weston has gone down, I don't know if it's originally outside the box but I thought he was in the box.
"He was the other side if the player and, I must be honest, I was puzzled why he got the other side of the player and decided to, as the referee said, dive because he booked him for it.
"There was a lot of frustration at that time from the supporters as well as the players."
