Dominic Poleon took his tally for a memorable season to 34 goals after scoring four times to sink 10-man Dulwich on Saturday.

The Ebbsfleet striker fired his side 18 points clear at the top of National League South with second-placed Dartford not in action after their trip to Concord was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

It took Poleon just three minutes to make his mark. Greg Cundle, who was back to his best in the first half, crossed from the left and Poleon had the freedom of the penalty area to slam home past keeper Charlie Grainger.

The lead should have been doubled immediately but Shaq Coulthirst - one of four changes from the team that drew at Tonbridge last weekend - overhit a simple pass to set up Cundle.

Dulwich were back on level terms after just six minutes, George Porter pulling the ball back for Joe Felix to confidently place home.

But parity lasted just three minutes in a whirlwind start, which was probably far too open for either manager’s liking, as Grainger flapped at Wright’s corner and Poleon cleverly turned in the loose ball.

The offside flag denied Dulwich an equaliser and, for all their shortcomings in defence, the visitors were certainly not shy in pushing players in attack. Danny Mills put himself up against Chris Solly and won most things in the air, giving Dulwich a good platform to try and exploit the Fleet rearguard.

They should have levelled as Felix’s lob was well saved by Cousins and then Josh Fawole headed wide.

Quade Taylor was fortunate not to collect a second yellow card nine minutes before the break. Already in the book, he cynically took out Cundle on the edge of the area but somehow got away with just a talking to from referee Matthew Norton.

Luke O’Neill produced a good save from the resulting free-kick by Grainger but Ebbsfleet went 3-1 ahead on 38 minutes when Poleon completed his hat-trick after excellent work in the box by Cundle created the opening.

Rakish Bingham shot wide of the far post straight after the break and former Dartford defender Kristian Campbell was booked for a poor challenge on O’Neill.

The Fleet continued to cut through the Dulwich defence with ease, Coulthirst hit the outside of the post and Kreshnic Krasniqi was booked for a foul on Wright.

The mood changed just past the hour mark when Dulwich reduced the deficit as poor defending saw the Fleet fail to clear a cross and the ball fell for Porter to score from close range at the second attempt after Cousins had again produced a fine save.

Felix became the fourth Dulwich player to go into the referee’s notepad straight after for a foul.

Dulwich were gifted a great chance to level matters on 66 minutes when referee Norton harshly penalised Fleet skipper Chris Solly for handling Felix’s shot. Raymond stepped up but Cousins dived to his left and pushed the spot-kick away to deny his former Bromley team-mate.

Coulthirst hit the post for a second time before the forward was booked as he was substituted, after refusing to go off where the referee told him.

But it was a needless booking for Dulwich that effectively killed off their challenge. Krasniqi slid in to take out Cundle and was correctly booked for a second time with 13 minutes left.

The Fleet went 4-2 ahead on 79 minutes when substitute Omari Sterling-James skipped his way along the byline and set up Poleon to score his fourth of the afternoon.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill, Solly, Finney, McQueen (Sterling-James 72mins), N’Guessan, Wright (Clifford 84mins), Bingham, Cundle, Coulthirst (Edser 74mins), Poleon. Subs not used: Chapman, Hollis.

Dulwich: Grainger, Ming, Cheadle, Taylor, Raymond (Powell 71mins), Mills, Porter, Fawole (Crichlow 60mins), Felix, Krasniqi, Campbell. Subs not used: Gavin, Jones, Vint.

Referee: Matthew Norton.

Attendance: 1,525.