Ben May was relieved to finally make his full Ebbsfleet debut on Saturdaythis week after overcoming the back injury which had started to make his life a "nightmare".

Before starting the Fleet’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Folkestone on Saturday, the striker had played just 15 minutes of competitive football for the north Kent club.

Signed by Steve Brown to replicate the scoring form he showed for Dover last season, May’s season hit the buffers before it had even started.

The bad back which troubled the 29-year-old earlier in his career suddenly flared up and put him in the treatment room.

May said: "I couldn’t wait to get started with Ebbsfleet.

"I haven’t had a back problem for a while and it’s just been so frustrating.

"Every-day life has been uncomfortable, not just football.

"There was a little incident against Dartford (in pre-season) where a defender jarred my back. Then I was doing some core work on a Swiss ball and I jarred it again.

"There’s nothing you can do about it. The fans have been asking me if I’m OK, if I’m fit and I’m like, ‘please, I’m gagging to get out there, just give me time'."

May played the full 90 minutes and scored twice in Ebbsfleet's 6-1 win at Sittingbourne in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night.