Tonbridge Angels 1 Ebbsfleet United 2 match report: Gene Kennedy and Kwesi Appiah score in National League South win, Frankie Barker replies for the home side

Ebbsfleet maintained their unbeaten start to the season with victory at Tonbridge on Saturday.

The Fleet are playing catch-up in National League South but they raced into a two-goal lead on their way to maximum points at Longmead.

Ebbsfleet made two changes from the team that won at Maidenhead in the FA Cup last weekend with Jake Vokins and Josh Passley replacing Camron Gbadebo and Olly Box.

The hosts also made two changes with Hayden Bullas and Alfie Pavey replaced by Jaden Brown and Lemar Reynolds.

Ebbsfleet took just six minutes to take the lead with a goal-of-the-season contender from Gene Kennedy.

The 23-year-old former Colchester and Welling midfielder produced a breathtaking right-foot finish from at least 25 yards that swerved away from keeper Nathan Harness and found the top corner.

The lead was nearly doubled two minutes later but Kwesi Appiah’s header flicked the top of the bar from a Ben Chapman cross.

Tonbridge’s first opportunity came on 11 minutes when Fleet keeper Will Buse was penalised for taking to long over a goal kick. The resulting corner was headed over by Ethan Sutcliffe.

Buse had to save a long-range shot from Ricky Korboa but it was Ebbsfleet who were the dominant side and they made it 2-0 on 26 minutes.

The in-form Lennon Peake produced an excellent cross from the right and livewire Appiah reacted quickest to get ahead of his marker and nod beyond Harness.

The duo combined again 10 minutes later when Appiah’s header from a Peake cross had to be turned over the bar by Harness.

Tonbridge rallied before the break with Sam Corne bursting through but opting to try and find a team-mate rather than line up a shot.

The hosts pulled a goal back three minutes into time added on when striker Frankie Baker