New Ebbsfleet manager Harry Watling got off to a winning start after a deserved victory at home to Hartlepool on Saturday.

Rakish Bingham’s first-half goal proved the difference between the two teams as the Fleet for their first National League win of the season at the ninth attempt.

Ebbsfleet made three changes from the team that drew with Aldershot in midweek. Wes Fonguck, Will Randall and Josh Wright replaced Luke O’Neill, Dominic Poleon and Jim Kellermann, who all missed out due to injury.

Hartlepool nearly took advantage of a fortunate deflection inside the first seven minutes. Tom Dallison's clearance hit striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe and fell for Joe Grey but keeper Mark Cousins was out smartly to make the save.

It needed a fine clearance by Hartlepool right-back Kieron Freeman from Ben Chapman's cross to deny Will Randall a tap-in at the far post but injury quickly saw Freeman's afternoon cut short.

The Fleet's first attempt at goal saw Lewis Page send his 20-yard free-kick over the bar.

Grey was book for a spot of petulance as, having not been awarded what would have been a soft free-kick, he quickly upended Randall and was swiftly shown a yellow card.

Anthony Mancini shot wide from distance for Hartlepool but it was the Fleet who looked in control and they were rewarded for a measured display with a goal five minutes before the break.

Rakish Bingham did all the hard work himself to unsettle visiting skipper Tom Parkes and then got a spot of luck as he cut inside and saw his right-foot shot deflected past keeper Adam Smith.

It was a first goal in 513 minutes for the Fleet, since they scored in the 3-2 loss at Yeovil in August.

Hartlepool forced three corners early in the second half but there was an organisation in the Fleet’s defending and the closest the visitors came was when substitute Dan Dodds shot narrowly over from 25 yards.

Billy Sass-Davies became the second player to be booked for a late challenge just before the hour mark and he was soon joined by the Fleet’s Franklin Domi.

Chapman cut inside but saw his shot deflected over for a corner, then he crossed from the right but the ball was brilliantly headed clear as Bingham closed in. Then, with 10 minutes left, Chapman exchanged with substitute Jephte Tanga down the right but no-one was on hand to turn in his inviting cross.

Hartlepool were dominating territory but couldn’t slice open the Fleet defence, Dodds forcing Cousins into action from 20 yards.

The visitors had a golden chance with four minutes left but Dieseruvwe dragged his right-foot shot wide from the edge of the box.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Page, Wright, Bingham, Fonguck (Cundle 56mins), Randall (Tanga 66mins), Domi (John 84mins), Edser, Chapman, Olagunju, Dallison. Subs not used: Berry, Cordner, Phillips, Tanner.

Hartlepool: Smith, Ferguson, Parkes, Hunter (Campbell 72mins), Mancini, Grey, Sheron (Featherstone 64mins), Sass-Davies, Mathurin (Charman 56mins), Dieseruvwe, Freeman (Dodds 17mins). Subs not used: Robinson, Young, Onariase.

Referee: Oliver Mackey.

Attendance: 1,424 (174 away).