EBBSFLEET United continued their good away form with victory over Havant & Waterlooville at Westleigh Park.

A heavy pitch meant the match was played at a slow pace, which hampered both teams’ play.

Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish made three changes from the side that drew with Eastleigh, recalling Ryan Blake, Conor Okus and Craig Stone to the starting XI in place of Joe Howe, Ricky Shakes and Derek Duncan.

Havant boss Shaun Gale fielded an attacking 4-3-3 formation which featured former Fleet player Guieseppe Sole.

The visitors made the perfect start on five minutes when Callum Willock managed to flick a header into the path of Ashley Carew, who burst into the box before slotting past Havant goalkeeper Aaron Howe.

Michael West could have doubled the lead a minute later but he failed to make proper contact with Tom Phipp’s right-wing cross.

Willock then had a penalty appeal turned down when he appeared to be pushed from behind when running through on goal.

Havant slowly got back into the game and they should have been level on 20 minutes but Sam Pearce somehow managed to fire over from six yards after Ian Selley’s free-kick.

However, they were level 10 minutes before half-time when Stephen Ramsey managed to cross into the box and Joe Keehan showed great technique to volley in off the post.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with neither side able to retain possession on the bumpy pitch.

Howe was forced to tip Phipp’s miss-hit cross over his own bar and from the resulting corner, Ebbsfleet retook the lead as Paul Lorraine lost his marker to powerfully head Carew’s cross into the net from 12 yards.

Havant were level five minutes later when Ramsey’s cross found Sole unmarked in the box and he finished past Preston Edwards.

The hosts could then have taken the lead but Paul Hinshlewood put his shot wide when well placed.

That miss was to prove costly when Carew played a pass over the top of the defence for Shakes to run onto.

The substitute took advantage of Howe’s hesitancy by firing through his legs and into the back of the net to give Ebbsfleet the lead.

Willock then had the chance to secure the points but his header somehow bounced over the bar from six yards.

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Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Stone, Lorraine, Easton, Blake, Phipp (Howe 87), Marwa, Okus (Shakes 73), West, Willock, Carew. Subs not used: Hagan, Pooley, Williams. Att: 857.