Ebbsfleet’s first home National League match of the season ended in defeat against much-fancied Barnet on Saturday.

With both sides having lost on the opening day and looking to bounce back, it was the Bees who did so as forward Callum Stead struck in either half despite Ebbsfleet substitute Dominic Poleon’s stoppage-time penalty.

Away forward Nicke Kabamba had the first chance at Stonebridge Road in front of a crowd of 1,636. He was denied by Ebbsfleet keeper Mark Cousins after a nice through-ball from Zak Brunt in the second minute of the match.

Four minutes later, home striker Kwame Thomas picked up the game’s first caution off referee Steven Copeland for a late challenge.

And the 21st minute then saw visiting appeals for Thomas to be dismissed after he lost out in an aerial challenge. But referee Mr Copeland opted to just give the 28-year-old a warning.

Thomas’ strike partner, Dominic Samuel, was in the thick of the action on the half-hour mark.

He fired inches wide of Nick Hayes’ right-hand post with a long-range shot but, having ripped his shirt in the attack, he was back in the action after a swift shirt change as he got booked for a late challenge in midfield.

The Fleet went close on 40 minutes when Thomas glanced wide Ben Chapman’s right-wing cross after a fine ball forward from midfield had started the attack.

But three minutes later, the Bees drew first blood.

Stead wriggled free to blast past home keeper Cousins after good work by Billy Clifford against his old club to give them a half-time lead, with the officials heading off to plenty of stick from the home fans at the interval shortly after.

Ebbsfleet boss Danny Searle made a half-time switch, which saw Poleon replace Thomas.

There was a booking for Clifford shortly before the hour mark - greeted by ironic cheers - and that was followed by Brunt being cautioned for simulation as he went down in the area, searching for a penalty.

Soon after, Stead dragged narrowly wide after a super touch to take the ball under his spell.

But he did claim his and his team’s second with 20 minutes to go. He broke through and, although Cousins got something on the shot, the ball still ended up in the net before he celebrated in front of the 256-strong away contingent.

As temperatures continued to rise, one of the Fleet’s coaching staff was given an 82nd-minute straight red.

Samuel again sent a long-range effort just wide in the second minute of some seven minutes of injury time.

With two minutes still to play, the hosts were handed a late lifeline. Poleon fired in a late penalty after ex-Dover defender Danny Collinge was adjudged to have fouled someone in the box following Chapman’s right-wing cross.

It was too little, too late, for the Fleet, but there certainly were some positives to take despite the defeat.

Ebbsfleet manager Searle had made three changes from their starting line-up that had suffered an opening-day 5-1 loss at Gateshead last weekend.

Franklin Domi, Giles Phillips and Thomas replaced Poleon, Louis John and Toby Edser.

Midfielder Clifford and defender Myles Kenlock, both formerly of the Fleet, started for Dean Brennan's Barnet side.

Ebbsfleet return to league action at Yeovil on Tuesday and will hope it’s third time lucky in their quest for their first National League points of the campaign.

Ebbsfleet United: Cousins, O’Neill, Page, Wright (Fonguck 73mins), Cordner (John 78mins), Kellermann (Edser 64mins), Samuel, Domi (Tanner 73mins), Phillips, Chapman, Thomas (Poleon 46mins). Subs not used: Derry, Cundle.

Barnet: Hayes, Coker, Kabamba (Wilkinson 90mins), Stead, Kanu, Brunt (Chapman 86mins), Hartigan, Clifford (Tavares 67mins), Oluwu, Kenlock (Okimo 80mins), Kizzi (Collinge 84mins). Subs not used: Gillmore, Hall-Johnson.

Referee: Steven Copeland.

Attendance: 1,636 (256 away fans).