Ebbsfleet had to settle for a draw at home to struggling Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

Michael Cheek's first goal for the club spared them a third successive defeat but it's now five matches without a win for Daryl McMahon's side.

Fleet had Kenny Clark sent off in the closing stages of another frustrating afternoon in the National League.

Fleet boss Daryl McMahon rang the changes on the back of what he described as the worst performance under his management. Danny Kedwell, Andy Drury and Jack King were among five players axed following the 4-1 drubbing at Wrexham, with Drury and King not even in the squad.

Bagasan Graham started a league game for Fleet for the first time in more than a year while Michael Cheek partnered Corey Whitely up front. Dave Winfield played in the centre of a back three after recovering from a hamstring injury, lining up alongside Kenny Clark for the first time this season.

But it was the same old story as just three minutes in, Havant took the lead. The personnel may have changed but Ebbsfleet's defending was just as poor as Winfield failed to clear, Nicke Kabamba rounded Nathan Ashmore and Aaron Cosgrave volleyed in from a couple of yards.

Fleet needed a quick response but lacked the urgency required.

Whitely's cross was pushed out by an uncertain Ben Dudzinski before Winfield looped a header over from Chris Bush's long throw.

The visitors forced Ryan Woodford into a mistake and Whitely bent a shot just wide although it was hard to see where a goal was going to come from.

That was until the 28th minute when Dudzinski made the foolish decision to take on Whitely in a sprint. Whitely got to the through-ball first, squared for Cheek and he scored on the half-volley.

Graham was justifying his selection down the left-hand side, where he had the beating of Josh Huggins every time he opened his legs. Graham's tempting deliveries were causing Havant a few worries although there were still concerns over the home side's defending at the other end.

A corner from the left was allowed to drift all the way through the penalty area and Tyler Cordner headed into the side netting.

But Ebbsfleet, who won seven corners in the first half, were now well on top and Cheek had a shot charged down by Ed Harris just before half-time.

The lively Whitely picked up where he left off after the break, shifting the ball a yard and firing just wide of the far post.

Winfield got up well to meet yet another corner but his header was scrambled off the line.

Sean Shields, on for the injured Graham, was straight into the action with a couple of chops and a shot which whistled over before Ebou Adams blazed wide from distance.

For the Hawks, Rory Williams made good ground down the left but Winfield and Dean Rance made timely blocks in the middle before Brian Stock lashed a long shot over.

Winfield got on the end of another Powell corner but Dudzinski grabbed his header as the game of attack versus defence continued.

On came Darren McQueen for the last 15 minutes but Fleet were then reduced to 10 men moments later when centre-half Kenny Clark was shown a second yellow card.

Fleet kept pressing though, and Shields thumped a shot into the side netting after Woodford had blocked McQueen's low shot behind.

But the visitors should have won it deep in stoppage-time, Andreas Robinson lashing wide after Alfie Pavey had nodded down Stock's deep cross.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Clark, Winfield, Bush, Weston, Rance, Adams, Powell (McQueen 75mins), Graham (Shields 56mins), Whitely, Cheek (Magri 87mins). Subs not used: Kedwell, Coulson.

Havant: Dudzinski, Woodford, Harris, Cordner, Huggins, Stock, Lewis (Sekajja 83mins), Ridge (Robinson 75mins), Williams, Kabamba, Cosgrave (Pavey 75mins). Subs not used: Tarbuck, Rutherford.

Attendance: 1,141.