Ebbsfleet's last-gasp victory at Basingstoke on Saturday sent a message to their title rivals.

That was the verdict of manager Daryl McMahon after he watched new signing Aaron McLean score in the 92nd minute to earn Fleet their first win of 2016.

His goal sent them eight points clear on a dramatic day in National League South.

That lead looked set to be cut to just four points with the scores level as the board went up for added time at the Camrose.

Back in Kent, second-placed Maidstone United were 2-1 up against Concord Rangers but everything was about to change. McLean's goal handed Ebbsfleet victory just as John Easterford was equalising for Concord at the Gallagher Stadium.

Ebbsfleet ended a three-match winless run and McMahon admitted: "We did it the hard way.

"From that run we’ve had, two draws and a defeat and then you’re 1-0 down at half-time, I’m sure there were a lot of people at different grounds in our league thinking ‘happy days, they’re gone’ and I think we showed some character in the second half to say ‘we haven’t gone anywhere yet, we’re still here and we still want to go on and win the league’.

"We had a meeting on Monday regarding the last couple of games and the players' performance and effort in training on Monday and Tuesday told me 'these lot want to win the league'.

"They’re prepared to do it, they’re prepared to put the work in and they got their rewards."

Fleet trailed to a Jack Deaman goal at the break after an uninspiring first 45 minutes.

McMahon said: "I didn’t think it was a good first half. It was an ugly half.

"We looked like we wanted to get it forward quickly and try to cross it early and it was just a little bit too rushed. It lacked a little bit of quality.

"In the second half we were excellent and there was only ever going to be one winner. We finished the game with Haynes, Cook, Kedwell, Godden and McLean (on the pitch) with Lewis coming in behind so we obviously went for the win.

"When I brought Aaron in, that’s why I brought him in, because he scores ugly goals. He puts himself in positions to score goals and they just about get over the line but they always get in.

"He’s made a habit of it and I’m delighted for him - and Cookie as well. Cookie’s worked hard and he’s tried to impress, probably over-tried sometimes but I thought he was a handful for the whole game."