Three goals in 14 second-half minutes led new Ebbsfleet manager Danny Searle to his first win in charge on Saturday.

After two draws during an interim role against Oldham and Chesterfield, this was arguably the biggest game of the three - and Searle ensured his team delivered by claiming three National League points.

Ebbsfleet handed Bryant Bilongo, on loan from Middlesbrough, a debut and he made quite the impact down the left wing.

Franklin Domi was also named in the starting XI as the hosts made two changes from the team that started at Chesterfield, Ouss Cisse and Omari Sterling-James dropping out.

Ebbsfleet had an early sight of goal when Bilongo fed Rakish Bingham on the edge of the box but his low left-foot shot took a deflection before being gathered by keeper Joe McDonnell.

It was Eastleigh that edged the opening periods, though, although they didn’t have a clear sight of goal until Ebbsfleet gifted them a glorious chance on 16 minutes. Defender Declan Skura was caught taking too long to play the ball out by Scott Quigley and it fell perfectly for Paul McCallum, who somehow dragged his shot wide of the upright with just keeper Mark Cousins to beat.

Ebbsfleet were getting joy down the left with Bilongo impressing in front of the home fans for the first time and linking up well with Myles Kenlock, whose went along the six-yard box with no one on hand to touch the ball home. Quigley then bundled his way through at the other end but prodded wide.

Ebbsfleet were starting to assert themselves on the game and McDonnell had to be alert to turn aside Luke O’Neill’s 20-yard drive.

Cousins saved well from a Luke Croll header before Dominic Poleon appeared to be caught in the box as he cut inside the last man but he admirably stayed on his feet and referee Graham Rhodes subsequently wasn’t interested.

If Bilongo was the bright light of the first half, he was unstoppable in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Wright’s right-wing corner was headed in by Bilongo on 48 minutes to put the Fleet ahead.

In a whirlwind start to the half, Poleon then saw his shot from Bilongo’s cross brilliantly blocked by visiting captain Aaron Martin.

The lead was doubled on 53 minutes when Bilongo turned provider and unselfishly played the ball across goal for Bingham, who never looked like missing at the far post.

The Fleet were slicing through Eastleigh at will and it needed another block by Martin to deny Poleon before the Fleet striker was denied at the near post from Chapman’s right-wing cross. Whatever was said at half-time, certainly had the right effect.

The third goal deservedly arrived on 62 minutes, another Wright corner was met by O’Neill, whose header went in via the far post.

Ebbsfleet were quicker with the ball and much faster in mind against an Eastleigh side who looked every inch an outfit that have now gone 26 games without a clean sheet and nine league matches without a win. Make no mistake, they are well and truly in the relegation dogfight.

Substitute Dominic Samuel nearly added a fourth six minutes from time when McDonnell had to turn behind his 20-yard right-foot shot.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O'Neill (Fogarty 86mins), Skura, Bilongo, Kenlock, Chapman, Edser (Clifford 74mins), Wright, Domi, Bingham (Samuel 74mins), Poleon. Subs not used: Cisse, McQueen.

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Martin, Taylor, McCallum, Boldewijn, Croll, Nwabuokei (Atangana 63mins), Maguire, Longe-King (Reeves 63mins), Quigley, Rutherford. Subs not used: Francillette, Hodson, Greenwood.

Referee: Gareth Rhodes.

Attendance: 1,617 (131 away).