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Steve Brown was impressed by Ebbsfleet United's improved performance against Havant & Waterlooville

Ebbsfleet United manager Steve Brown Picture: John Westhrop
Ebbsfleet United manager Steve Brown Picture: John Westhrop

Steve Brown felt his side raised their game against Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

A goal from Daryl McMahon handed the Fleet a 1-0 win at the PHB Stadium, four days after they'd started the season by beating Concord Rangers 2-0.

Brown, the Ebbsfleet manager, was delighted with the result - and the performance.

He said: "We’re a game behind most teams and I believe we’ve got as many points as the guys around us now. A few results went in our favour on Saturday.

"I just want those players to understand the difference in the performances from Tuesday to Saturday. They were both wins but one was a polished performance and one not-so-polished.

"That’s what we aim for. The results are the icing on the cake, but what you’ve got to do to get to those results is the work.

"In this game (Havant), you got an all-round performance where we worked our socks off, we didn’t allow our opposition a great deal of opportunity, and we created a lot of opportunities ourselves. In that respect, I’m absolutely delighted."

Anthony Acheampong gets up well against Havant forward JJ Hooper Picture: John Westhrop
Anthony Acheampong gets up well against Havant forward JJ Hooper Picture: John Westhrop

Ebbsfleet now have six points from two games while the early Vanarama Conference South leaders, Eastbourne Borough, have seven from three.

Brown said: "I know how hard Havant are to break down and I’d not had a result against them as Ebbsfleet manager.

"I thought the goal that won it was a classy goal from Macca.

"I thought we played it superbly, especially in the second 45 minutes, when I didn’t think we gave them a sniff. I thought it was an extremely controlled second 45 from us, in regard to not allowing them a sniff at our goal and creating a lot of opportunities.

"I thought the performance was well-controlled and, at times, as they got more desperate to equalise, that opened up a lot of spaces for us to exploit. At times, at this level, you create a lot of opportunities and you snatch at those opportunities. I thought we snatched at a few opportunities but I’m very pleased with the work-rate – and it’s another clean sheet.

"If I look at Tuesday night’s performance to this performance, I walk away happy with the result on Tuesday night, knowing we need to sharpen up a little bit, I walk away today saying 'we need to maintain that' because I thought that performance was terrific."

Ebbsfleet's next game is away to Whitehawk on Saturday.

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