Darren McQueen scored his first goal for almost a year in Ebbsfleet's home win over Eastbourne on Tuesday.

The fit-again striker showed his predatory instincts are still sharp as Fleet dominated proceedings against their National League South visitors.

Daryl McMahon's side created enough good chances to win by a clear margin but in the end they needed a late strike from Sean Shields to settle things in their favour.

There was a start for transfer-listed Bagasan Graham and his pace down the Fleet left gave Eastbourne a few problems early on.

He delivered a couple of dangerous crosses which the visitors did well to cut out and Graham made some powerful runs through central midfield too.

Jack Powell's free-kick from distance was held by Sports keeper Mark Smith and Luke Coulson, on the stretch, then failed to hit the target.

The home side came within inches of taking a spectacular lead when Jack Payne's dipping strike from 30 yards rattled the crossbar and bounced behind.

Payne's through-ball then found McQueen who almost seemed to have too much time as the Eastbourne defence parted in front of him. McQueen tried to go round Smith but took one touch too many and Eastbourne were able to block his shot.

At the other end, ex-Fleet favourite Michael West drifted a free-kick over the bar but the home side controlled the first half.

Myles Weston seemed determined to prove that whatever Graham could do, he could match with a series of lung-bursting runs down the right wing.

It was from Weston's excellent cross in the 27th minute that Ebbsfleet took the lead. The ball reached McQueen and he did the rest with a controlled volley back under Smith's body.

Weston blazed a shot wide and Ebou Adams should have made it 2-0 when he ran on to Coulson's pass but Smith denied him.

More good play from Weston at the start of the second half created a gilt-edged chance. Weston skinned his man and crossed low from the right but Graham, arriving late at the far post, could only find the side netting.

The next Fleet move was started by centre-half Jack King. His raking ball down the right sent Coulson clear and his pull-back was turned just past the angle by Powell.

Ebbsfleet were cutting through at will but failed to add to their tally. Weston blazed over from Graham's low centre and Coulson forced a good save from Smith.

But the visitors equalised against the run of play when Yemi Odubade converted a penalty the referee appeared to have given for handball.

A rash of substitutions followed and Eastbourne went close again when Charlie Walker collected Odubade's square pass and tested Fleet goalkeeper Jon Miles.

Dave Winfield craned his neck to head Powell's teasing cross narrowly wide at the other end and Kenny Clark nodded over from a corner.

But the home side, who finished the game in a 4-2-3-1 shape, went back in front nine minutes from time.

Eastbourne failed to deal with Lawrie Wilson's cross from the right and Shields made no mistake with a calm left-footed finish.

Ebbsfleet opened the Sports up several times late on with some incisive passing but there was no-one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Ebbsfleet: Miles, King (Wilson 64mins), Winfield, Powell, Adams, Weston, McQueen (Kedwell 64mins), Coulson (Shields 64mins), Payne (Whitely 64mins), Bush (Connors 64mins), Graham (Clark 64mins). Subs not used: Ashmore, Mills, Moncur.

Eastbourne: Smith, Hamilton, Edwards, Wills, Simpemba, Ransom, West, Torres, Dawes, Odubade, Martin. Subs: Walker, Pollard, Ferguson, Briggs, Mynardt, Hamann, Platt.

Attendance: 346.