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Ebbsfleet United boss Daryl McMahon on the 1-1 draw at Dover Athletic

Daryl McMahon admitted Ebbsfleet's new system needs more work after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Dover.

McMahon paired Michael Cheek and Darren McQueen in attack, leaving Danny Kedwell on the bench for the first time this season.

Corey Whitely played behind the strikers and Jack Powell was preferred to Andy Drury in a deeper midfield role while McMahon also changed to a back-three in defence.

Ebbsfleet manager Daryl McMahon Picture: Andy Payton
Ebbsfleet manager Daryl McMahon Picture: Andy Payton

He said: "It needs more work. We've gone for a super-attacking line-up - I don't think we could go any more attacking unless we put Kedwell in goal.

"We had some good play in the first half-an-hour and looked bright but never really clicked.

"It's a team we’ve put together tonight that hasn't played together before and it's great to have Darren back scoring.

"He's another goal threat - and we need one at the minute. With the amount of ball we have and the amount of chances we have, the way we push teams back and make them defend, we need him fit and scoring goals. I was delighted for him."

McQueen opened the scoring on 12 minutes but Connor Essam got free to head Dover level just after the half-hour.

"We probably didn’t do enough to take the three points after a bright start," McMahon admitted. "We probably had the better chances again but didn’t manage to take them.

"We went with a younger team to give some people an opportunity and we did lack that killer instinct."

Asked why he left Kedwell out, McMahon said: "To give him a rest. He’s 35 and he’s played eight games in a short period of time, the same as Jukesy.

"Some of the stuff we played was exciting with Corey (Whitely), Darren and Cheeky (Michael Cheek). Cheeky had a good opportunity second half but couldn’t get it out of his feet in the box.

"Jack Powell again was decent tonight but we need to score more goals.

"Dover defended very deep so it was difficult to get in. We became predictable in that last bit until we got Keds on and somebody got into the pocket with Powelly to play through them.

"We need to do a bit more to be honest.

"I think we’ve performed well in nigh-on every game this season but this is one where I didn’t think we played so well. We didn’t create enough chances for the amount of ball we had."

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