Manager Daryl McMahon praised Ebbsfleet for the quality of their football in the 4-2 win over Eastbourne.

Goals from Matt Godden (3) and Charlie Sheringham fired Fleet to victory on the final day of the regular season as they finished runners-up in National League South.

Two weeks on from the defeat at Sutton which ended their title hopes, this game could have been a real anticlimax but Ebbsfleet gave the 1,348 crowd some real entertainment.

McMahon said: "It’s a good result and we played some terrific football. I’m glad for Godders to get a hat-trick.

"I’m delighted for (academy player) Ollie Boulding to get his debut, he acquitted himself really well.

"We got some minutes into people as well, which was important. Sam Deering was terrific, having been out of the side for the last few weeks.

"We’ve got good players, they’re bright players and particularly in the first half, we played some good stuff.

"When it went 2-2, it kicked us back into action and we played some really good stuff. We could have scored five or six and probably should have had a penalty - but we’re not allowed them."

It wasn't a Fleet performance without blemish, however. They led 2-0 at half-time but two goals from substitute Nathan Pinney brought Eastbourne level.

"We conceded two poor goals," McMahon admitted. "We had a period at the start of the second half when we weren’t really at it.

"But they put four strikers on and just smashed it up to them. There was no science to it, it was just quite direct and it’s not easy to play against.

"Because they had nothing to play for and nothing to lose, they just tried to upset the game a little bit and they did that for a spell.

"We showed great character to get back on top."

Ebbsfleet will face Whitehawk in the play-off semi-finals, with the first leg away from home.

They visit the Enclosed Ground in Brighton on Wednesday (7.45pm) with the second leg at Stonebridge Road next Sunday (4pm).