Goals from Craig Tanner and substitute Dominic Poleon handed Ebbsfleet maximum points against Eastbourne in National League South.

But they were made to work hard for their win against a spirited Eastbourne side, who were ultimately undone by a stunning Tanner free-kick at the end of the first half.

Fleet made three changes from the team beaten at Havant seven days earlier, Sefa Kahraman taking his place at the heart of the back three.

It was a slow start by the hosts, Eastbourne settled well and Charley Kendall and Charlie Walker both had shots off target.

Fleet’s first effort on goal was more than speculative, Kahraman trying to catch out Conor Manderson from 15 yards inside his own half, but the on-loan Portsmouth keeper never had to move to gather the ball.

Shaquile Coulthirst saw his near-post effort from an Ashley Nathaniel-George pull back hit the outside of the upright and it needed a moment of inspiration to liven the game up.

Tanner won a free-kick when he was fouled on the edge of the penalty area by visiting captain Walker. Tanner stepped up and curled a delightful left-foot shot into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Manderson three minutes before the break.

Fleet lost Tobi Adebayo-Rowling to injury early in the second half, the wing-back having to be helped off after a challenge with former team-mate Greg Luer.

His replacement Jack Paxman also impressed down the right while Poleon twice went close, his persistence creating an opening that was deflected wide before he whistled a shot wide from 20 yards on the break.

At the other end, Eastbourne twice went close to scoring. Former Gills midfielder Chris Whelpdale saw his close-range effort hacked clear by Sido Jombati after keeper Louie Moulden failed to hold a left-wing cross.

Then Moulden had to tip over James Hammond’s cross that nearly sneaked in under the bar.

Coulthirst nearly wrapped the points up with 17 minutes left as Fleet found more space going forward, the Fleet striker firing inches wide from long range after Manderson hesitated in goal.

Moulden was then at full stretch to turn away Whelpdale’s long-range effort after a weak Jombati header clear, as chances were coming thick and fast at both ends.

Poleon wrapped the points up eight minutes from time, collecting Paxman’s pass and getting ahead of Trent Mahorn before prodding home from close range.

Refereee Ben Atkinson, who never looked in control throughout, added eight minutes of stoppage time but neither team could add to the scoreline.

Ebbsfleet: Moulden, Adebayo-Rowling (Paxman 53mins), Kahraman, Jombati, Solly, Chapman, N’Guessan, Tanner. Nathaniel-George, Romain (Poleon 46mins), Coulthirst (Monlouis 87mins). Subs not used: Haigh, L Martin.

Eastbourne: Manderson, Currie, Nippard, Dickenson, Rollinson (Gravata 70mins), Hammond, Luer, Walker (Allsop 77mins), Whelpdale, Mahorn, Kendall. Subs not used: James, Perez, Shaw.

Referee: Ben Atkinson.

Attendance: 944.