Daryl McMahon hailed Ebbsfleet's steely side after their Boxing Day win over Bromley.

All the goals came in an action-packed first half as Jack Powell and Danny Kedwell fired Fleet to their fifth straight home win.

But equally impressive was the way they nullified the National League's joint top scorers in the second half, keeping Bromley at arm's length for long periods.

"We showed two different sides to us," McMahon said. "First half, with the ball, we were very good, second half we probably weren’t as good but we defended the box well, we were gritty and we slugged it out and got the points, which you need sometimes in derby games.

"I think we’ve got a lot more steel now throughout the group. Learning the level for everyone is important, that you know what it takes to win games.

"You have to do the basics well and I thought we did.

"We were too open in the first half. We gave Dennis, Rees and Wanadio too much space to get crosses in or get in between our midfield, which I thought we tightened up in the second half.

"We got a little bit closer to each other and I thought we defended well second half as a group."

Victory lifted Fleet above Bromley into ninth, two points outside the play-offs.

McMahon said: "There’s a long way to go. We’re just about to come to the turn of the year and we’ve got to carry it on into January and see where we are when we come out of the Christmas period.

"We’re getting the same people out more regularly now, which is important. Everyone getting familiar with each other is really important.

"Getting Dave (Winfield) back has been important, to give you those leadership qualities and Keds is getting his goals. Lots of things are going for us at the minute that we need to kick on in these next few games."

Ebbsfleet are at home to seventh-placed Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.