Ebbsfleet's excellent run of away results finally came to an end at Sutton on Saturday.

Having not been beaten away from the PHB Stadium since September 9, a run stretching back nine games, the Fleet made a nightmare start at Gander Green Lane.

They were 2-0 down in seven minutes and Danny Kedwell's first goal for the club, from the penalty spot after half-time, wasn't enough to turn things around.

After a frantic fortnight of transfer business, Ebbsfleet's starting XI bore eight changes from their previous league game - a 3-1 win at leaders Boreham Wood on January 4.

New signings Matt Fish, Stuart Lewis, Kelvin Langmead, Kedwell and Theo Lewis all made their league debuts while Adam Cunnington was named among the substitutes. In goal, Preston Edwards continued in place of the suspended Brandon Hall, while Kenny Clark and Tyrone Marsh also returned to the line-up.

Fleet fans had travelled to Surrey in numbers but they were stunned into silence by two Sutton goals inside the first seven minutes.

First, Bedsente Gomis rose highest to nod a left-wing cross past Edwards from inside the six-yard box.

And when Ricky Wellard was allowed time on the ball on the right-hand corner of the box, he cut inside and bent a low left-footed shot across Edwards into the far corner.

Ebbsfleet were rocking and it took them some time to stem Sutton's attacking flow.

When they did get forward, Joe Howe's wild strike from 35 yards epitomised their frustration. Marsh's neat through-ball to Sean Shields then saw the winger flagged offside.

But Stuart Lewis almost got the visitors back in the game when his powerful shot from the edge of the area rattled the crossbar and bounced behind.

Wellard tried his luck from distance at the other end but this time, his shot flew well over.

Centre-halves Langmead and Clark, playing together for the first time, looked like they'd only just met - as uncertainty reigned in the Fleet defence. Dan Fitchett looked to be in for a third Sutton goal on the half-hour and Edwards had to race out and dive at his feet.

Fleet had lots of possession but they lacked a cutting edge and when Sutton broke out of defence, Fitchett forced another save from Edwards.

Langmead rose to meet a Shields corner in stoppage-time but his header was cleared off the line and the U's survived the scramble which followed to maintain their two-goal lead at the break.

Jamie Day responded by bringing on Cunnington for the second half, with Shields the man to make way.

When play restarted, Marsh rolled a weak shot straight at Sutton keeper Aaron Howe, who then charged off his line to clear the danger when Kedwell hooked a ball into Theo Lewis' path.

Howe then did well to claw out a Theo Lewis header from Kedwell's right-wing delivery.

Sutton, fighting for their lives towards the foot of Vanarama Conference South, dug in and made things difficult for their visitors by scrapping for every loose ball.

And it was almost game over when Fitchett powered a header towards the bottom corner. It needed a brilliant save from Edwards to keep his side alive.

And moments later, they were right back in the contest. Theo Lewis tumbled in the box, referee Lee Betts pointed to the spot and Kedwell smashed home the penalty to make it 2-1.

The pressure now began to mount on the Sutton goal and Cunnington had two headers saved by Howe.

But the visitors simply weren't good enough to break the home side down for a second time.

Sutton: A Howe, Spillane, Cooper, Collins, Wellard, Southam, Gomis, Wishart, Scannell (Hippolyte-Patrick 89mins), Dundas (Evans 63mins), Fitchett (John 82mins). Subs not used: Lovelock, Medlock.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Fish, Langmead, Clark, J Howe, S Lewis, McMahon (Johnson 90mins), Marsh, T Lewis, Shields (Cunnington 46mins), Kedwell. Subs not used: Rance, Pooley, Turner.

Attendance: 696.