Clinical Ebbsfleet maintained their perfect start to the season with a derby win over Dover on Bank Holiday Monday.
Dominic Poleon scored twice with strike partner Rakish Bingham also on target, although the final scoreline was harsh on the visitors who were in the game for long periods.
The riches between the two squads was apparent in the team sheets, Dover changing only their goalkeeper from Saturday’s home win over Hemel Hempstead while Ebbsfleet switched seven players from the team that won at Concord.
Dover started the game at a terrific pace, not giving Ebbsfleet any time to settle and their physical approach was clearly designed to unsettle and disrupt the Fleet’s passing game.
Visiting skipper Lee Martin was clearly fired up against his former club, but he just kept his challenges under control and avoided referee Daniel Lamport’s notepad despite a number of first-half indiscretions.
It took Ebbsfleet 15 minutes to settle, Darren McQueen firing over before getting to the byline to set up Josh Wright, whose right-foot shot was beaten away by keeper Stuart Nelson.
Ebbsfleet took the lead on 18 minutes, the first time they created space in the middle of the park it enabled Rakish Bingham to run unopposed at the Dover defence and he slid in Dominic Poleon, whose low right-foot drive went through Nelson.
It was a tough opening period for Dover left-back Jack Paxman, who had to contend with the pace of McQueen. He was caught out again shortly after Dover went behind but as the Fleet worked the ball from right to left, Greg Cundle fired wide of the near post.
Dover responded and Alfie Pavey headed at goal from Myles Judd’s cross rather than trying to pick out a colleague in the six-yard box before Ebbsfleet keeper Mark
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