Ebbsfleet midfielder Will Wood says it was down to the players to bounce back from a testing week.

The Fleet bagged three vital points against Hampton in National League South after heavy defeats at promotion rivals Dorking and Maidstone in their previous two games.

“I don’t think it’s always up to the manager, the players go out and play,” said Wood.

“The manager can give you all the confidence in the world but you’ve got to go and do it – he can’t do it for you. Give him a lot of credit but ultimately, it’s up the players, and he knows that.”

There was no over-reaction within the Fleet camp despite the negative results.

Wood felt there was enough experience in the dressing room to ensure they responded in the right manner.

“It was more frustration, obviously we’re disappointed but it was more (a case of) why?” explained Wood.

“We’ve got the quality. We know man for man that we wouldn’t take any other players out of their team(s) and into ours.

“We’ve got experience and that will get us across the line. We’ve got good players and good people in the building.

“I don’t think there was any doubt, it was two games at the end of the day. I know the opposition was in and around us but it’s two games.”

The victory sets Fleet up for a trip to Dartford on Tuesday night, which Wood hopes will be another building block on the road to promotion.

“It’s a huge game, massive for us,” he added. “If we win on Tuesday then we’re back.

“Saturday was a lot better - everyone saw that - so hopefully we can play the same on Tuesday.

“It was a must(-win on Saturday), three points was a must to get that feeling back. We always believe but when you actually do it, it’s different. You can talk about it as much as you want but we went out and delivered.”

Wood marked his first start since December 11 by scoring a stunning winner against Hampton.

He’s had to battle hard to regain fitness after testing positive for Covid before Christmas but is happy to be back out with his team-mates again now.

Wood revealed: “I’ve had Covid and I struggled to get my fitness (back), the gaffer has been good with me. I played a bit the other night and got a taste for it and felt like I was back.

“I feel good and confidence so I’m back and will try to keep my shirt now.

“It’s different having Covid to when you are injured as you can still do work then but when you’re at home, there’s only so much you can do. Some of the lads had bad chests and their lungs were struggling so it does take a while to build it back up and get back again.”

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And on his winning goal, Wood added: “I wouldn’t have cared if it was a one-yard tap-in but to score a goal like that is special.

“The manager likes me out there as I can come inside and open the pitch up, and link the play.

“It opened up nicely for me and I thought it was worth taking a risk, it was 0-0 and it came off the foot so nicely. As soon as I looked up, I knew it was going in so I was buzzing with that one.”