Ebbsfleet’s National League survival hopes took a dent on Saturday after Stockport snatched a late winner.

Other results meant that the Fleet did not lose ground but it was an opportunity to gain on teams around them which went begging.

As the home fans have come to expect on the Stonebridge Road playing surface, there were few slick passing moves.

But chances came at both ends throughout.

Stockport’s Ben Jackson was denied in the ninth minute by keeper Jordan Holmes, before Fleet’s Gozie Ugwu saw his close-range shot deflected over the bar at the other end after he inadvertently got in the way of a goalbound effort.

Fleet had penalty appeals turned away when Ugwu went down under Liam Hogan’s challenge.

Stockport put their foot in during the early exchanges but Fleet’s Josh Payne went into referee Lloyd Wood’s book for a foul on Sam Walker on the half-hour.

Walker was denied by Holmes before Stockport had four chances to score in quick succession seven minutes before the break.

Holmes kept out Liam McAlinden’s clever backheel, and Jamie Grimes blocked the rebound from Walker. Then Walker’s close-range shot came back off the crossbar and Fleet’s John Goddard threw himself in front of Jordan Keane’s low drive.

Fleet stayed in the game, however, and nearly led before the break. Ugwu was unable to turn in Mekki’s cross when any touch would have surely put his team ahead and then skipper Jack King nodded back a far-post corner only for Ugwu to head over the bar.

Ugwu and Michael Timlin both had long-range efforts saved in the second half as Fleet’s shoot on sight policy meant they showed attacking intent.

Heavy rain disrupted the flow of the game, not surprisingly, but when that lengthy shower passed it was Fleet who started to create openings.

Umerah had a clear sight of goal but sliced his shot wide of the near post before substitute Tomi Adeloye’s downward header from Mekki’s cross was brilliantly turned behind by keeper Ben Hinchcliffe.

Stockport bagged the winner with three minutes left when Ashley Palmer headed in substitute Paul Turnbull’s corner from close range.

But Fleet should have rescued a point in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Jermaine McGlashan somehow fluffed his lines from six yards.

Ebbsfleet: Holmes, King, Wilson, Ugwu, Goddard (Adeloye 68mins), Umerah, Grimes, Timlin, Payne (Lawless 79mins), McGlashan, Mekki. Subs not used: Blackman, Palmer, Ekpiteta.

Stockport: Hinchcliffe, Minihan, Cowan, Palmer, Keane, Walker (Dimaio 81mins), Osborne (Turnbull 63mins), Jackson, McAlinden (Bell 68mins), Lloyd, Hogan. Subs not used: Ormson, Arthur.

Attendance: 1,030.