Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright praises captain Kwesi Appiah after 2-1 National League South win at Tonbridge Angels

Ebbsfleet boss Josh Wright praised skipper Kwesi Appiah after their derby victory at Tonbridge on Saturday.

Wright singled out striker Appiah for praise after he scored and led from the front at Longmead in National League South.

The Fleet raced into a two-goal lead but Tonbridge pulled one back on the stroke of half-time, leaving the visitors to dig deep after the break.

“We knew they were going to throw everything at us, and we had to stand strong,” said Wright.

“I’ll name one player now, Kwesi Appiah was absolutely sensational at both ends.

“The style we wanted to go with at that end (attacking), but also defensively, but everyone to a man (did well) when they were throwing stuff at us.

“Immensely proud. Ultra, ultra proud is the word I keep using. I thought we showed real resilience, real grit, desire and determination to pick up the big three points.”

Appiah has come into the side with striker Dominic Samuel ruled out through injury in the past fortnight.

The Fleet seemed to play more direct against Tonbridge despite being on a 3G surface which seemingly encourages teams to get the ball down and play.

“Everything we've worked on this week, everything we've built up, we actually played a different way,” disclosed Wright. “I have to say, we played a different way and there was a purpose to it.

“There was a reason to it, a different shape, a different style, and it came off. We got our two goals and we wanted us to be more ruthless this season - that's exactly what we have been.

“We took a big punch on the nose at half-time (when they scored), 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline. Going in at half-time, they all of a sudden got their tails up. It's really difficult when that happens but the boys regrouped.

“Alan Dunne is doing