Daryl McMahon was left with mixed feelings after Ebbsfleet's play-off success at Whitehawk.

Fleet left the Enclosed Ground with a 2-1 win after Danny Mills replied to earlier strikes from Stuart Lewis and Danny Kedwell.

McMahon was delighted with his team's performance but with the second leg to come on Sunday, he admitted Ebbsfleet could be in a more comfortable position.

Scroll down for audio

McMahon said: "If I was offered a one-goal lead going back to Stonebridge Road, I’d have taken it. The way the game panned out, we probably could have won by more but it is what it is.

"Whitehawk are a good side. They’re in fantastic form but we’ve come here and played really well. We created a number of chances and if we’d come away winning by two goals, I don’t think anyone could have complained.

"In the first 20 minutes, Whitehawk were very good. They took the game to us and were on the front foot. They were positive and got the ball forward quickly.

"We weathered that storm really well and then we came into the game."

Lewis tucked away only his second goal of the season after 28 minutes when Kedwell picked him out with a low cross after being played in down the right-hand side.

There was less subtlety about Ebbsfleet's second goal, 16 minutes from time. Kedwell smashed a free-kick through the Whitehawk wall and although goalkeeper Craig Ross got hands to the ball, he could only parry it into the roof of the net.

McMahon said: "Keds caught it nicely. He can hit a ball. If a couple of the boys got out the way, I don’t blame them. I would have done as well.

"It was a fantastic strike and he’s got that, Kedwell, he’s a powerful player."

The only blot on Fleet's copy book in Brighton was the goal they conceded eight minutes later. Nathan Ashmore saved from Sergio Torres but Mills gobbled up the rebound.

McMahon said: "We’re disappointed with that, disappointed with them getting a shot away.

"I think maybe Nathan could have put it wider as well and we’ve got to follow in Danny Mills, get there first. But it happens.

"The boys, across the board, defended fantastically. They limited Whitehawk to very little considering the quality of players they’ve got.

"We’re pleased and we go into Sunday looking forward to it."

The second leg at Stonebridge Road kicks off at 4pm.