Daryl McMahon was a happy man after his Fleet side scored four goals without reply and claimed the Margate performance was a sign that his side are growing into the league campaign.

“I’ve said it over the last two or three weeks that I feel we’ll get stronger,” he told Charles Webster. “Players that aren’t fit have been spilling their guts for us and I knew as they got fitter, they’d get better. Marvin McCoy’s been suffering with glandular fever: the last two Saturdays he’s been really struggling with energy levels but he’s put a shift in.”

And the boss heaped praise on his midfielders as two of them got goals in the 4-0 win. “Jack Powell, you can see from his set plays he’s very accurate, corners, free-kicks… his delivery is very good. I thought he was outstanding. I’m delighted for Powelly he needed a good performance going into today and he did it.

“Deering’s very bright, very clever, he links things together. He’s a little pest, a little ball of energy. Kissock was terrific too, he ended up being the defensive player and he marshalled that really well.”

McMahon also admitted he was surprised that goalkeeper Lewis Ward stayed on the pitch after his challenge on Sam Deering (pictured above): “The ref said he thought Sam was going away from the goal. If it was Mambo who brought him down, it would have been a red so I don’t see why it’s not for the keeper.”

And the Fleet boss saved his last words for young substitute Darren McQueen who scored his first league goal for the club at the end of the game.

“He’s the one I’m happiest for because he’s not had the minutes I could have given him,” said McMahon. “He’s a young lad and it’s not good for him to carry the can for the team. It’s good to have McLean and Sheringham to do what they did today, to maybe create space and make defenders tired for him to come on and get some goals because he’s a terrific finisher.”

McMahon’s opposite number Nikki Bull was philosophical in defeat, saying “the better team won without a doubt”.

“I thought we played into their hands a bit too much,” he said. “We can’t keep hitting it long, it’s meat and drink to them. The goal knocked us and I’m not sure whether we believed we’d really win the game today. Ebbsfleet were good, full credit to them they deserved the win.”

Listen to both interviews in full below.

https://soundcloud.com/eufcofficial/daryl-mcmahon-after-ebbsfleet-4-0-margate

https://soundcloud.com/eufcofficial/nikki-bull-after-ebbsfleet-4-0-margate