Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright says pre-season friendly against Dartford ticked all the boxes except one after 2-1 defeat at Princes Park

Ebbsfleet manager Josh Wright was pleased with the competitive nature of Tuesday’s pre-season friendly clash at Dartford.

The Fleet lost 2-1 after a controversial winner was allowed to stand for the home side and while the scoreline counted for little, Wright was disappointed to taste defeat in the derby.

“Everyone wants to win,” he said. “No matter what it is, who it’s against, you want to win. When you’re in this profession, being competitive, you want to win games. So, of course, that’s the disappointing side.

“But it was a good pitch, a good turnout, up against a decent side for the level. I think they’ll be right in and around it as they’ve got some good players and good experience.

“We’ve got some good young players and it was a great test for us again. We’ve played a couple of different formations, we’ve mixed it up again with boys getting used to each other.

“We’ve tried to get those combinations and we’ve come through it injury-free.

“The boys look fit. They look strong, and the rest of it takes care of itself. I think all these games throw up different aspects in terms of what you want out of them.

“First and foremost is you want the work into the legs. You want them to get running. You want them to be up and down and working around and talking, getting used to each other and all the little basics that come with football.

“Of course, we’re on the wrong side of the result. But results will take care of themselves and results matter further into pre-season but more so when the season starts.”

The Fleet looked at their best early in the second half and Wright was pleased with what he saw.

“I thought there was some really good stuff, especially [down our right],” he said.

“Then Harvey Walker, when he had the ball