Ebbsfleet United midfielder Ben Chapman on scoring his first goal of the season in a 2-0 win at Hampton & Richmond in National League South

Ebbsfleet midfielder Ben Chapman is renowned for the spectacular but he’s happy to score any sort of goal.

Chapman’s goals last season were a goal-of-the-season compilation tape in itself.

The 27-year-old opened his account this term with the first goal in a 2-0 National League South win at Hampton on Saturday.

It was all about placement rather than power for Chapman and he’s happy just to get up and running.

“Like I said last season, I wanted to get goals, it was one thing I was missing off my game I thought,” said Chapman. “So, to get a goal and get me on the board is good, hopefully I can get more and more as the weeks go on.

“I literally just passed it in the bottom corner and it came off the post, it was more about hitting that side netting and technique more than smashing the leather off of it.

“People bantered me for exactly that last season, you know, he scored from outside the box. I want to make sure I can score in the box and out the box, that I can vary up my finishing.”

Chapman has been disappointed with his finishing so far this season but it’s been tough to get going after their pre-season was effectively extended by a month after the club were suspended by the National League.

“From my standard from last season, I've just not been finishing-wise where I want to be and sometimes just one goal can change it all around,” explained Chapman.

“Starting the season late does have an effect, you can do all the pre-season training, friendlies, whatever, but if you don't have actual match points on the line, you can't really get that sharpness and fitness.

“It's taken us a couple of games to get there. But I feel like we're growing week by week and getting better and better.”

On the start of the season, Chapman