Midfielder Billy Clifford says he’s in best form of Ebbsfleet United career thanks to run in the side under new boss Danny Searle

Midfielder Billy Clifford admits he’s currently playing his best football since joining Ebbsfleet.

The 31-year-old joined the Fleet from Havant in January 2023 but had struggled to get a regular spot in the side.

That’s all changed under new boss Danny Searle and Clifford, who has started the last six games, capped it off with an injury-time header to rescue a vital point at Dagenham on Easter Monday.

“If you look at the last six or seven games it’s definitely been my best run in an Ebbsfleet shirt,” said Clifford.

“I can say that about a few of the boys as well, not just myself. Everyone is pushing in the right direction and helping the team.

“I’ve never scored a header in senior football before so it was nice to tick that one off.

“I wasn’t initially meant to be in the box, my role is to secure the box, but we were running out of time and I felt the more bodies in the box the more chance we had to score.

“The new manager has come in and given me my opportunity and I feel like I’ve taken it.

“We’re playing well and playing my style of football which is box-to-box, getting on the ball and trying to keep the team pushing up the pitch.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying it, and hopefully we can continue picking up points and keep this club in the league.”

Clifford had to serve three suspensions earlier in the season, picking up two red cards and reaching five cautions. It didn’t help the flow to his campaign.

“At the start of the season I was in and out and picking up silly bookings and suspensions,” he reflected.

“At my age it’s embarrassing that I was getting silly bookings and picking up five yellow cards to get suspended.

“To be fair I’ve not been booked in a few games now. But it was frustrating, I was in one game, then out for