by Andrew Gidley

Nathaniel Pinney scored twice and made one other as Ebbsfleet United moved three points closer to Blue Square Bet Premier survival with a 3-0 win over Tamworth at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night.

Goalkeeper Preston Edwards (pictured) saved a 41st minute penalty to keep Fleet ahead at half-time, before on-loan Crystal Palace striker Pinney stole the show in the second half, making the first for striker Liam Enver-Marum, and then netting the others – his second a fine solo effort.

Edwards kept out Kyle Patterson’s spot-kick, after referee Darren Sheldrake had pointed to the spot after the Tamworth striker had tumbled in the box under skipper Paul Lorraine’s challenge.

-minute lead finishing well past Edwards’ England C team-mate Jonathan Hedge.Pinney’s pass then put Enver-Marum through to give Fleet a 54

Pinney’s powerful run and finish made it 2-0 just after the hour and rounded things off three minutes before the end, cutting inside before beating Hedge.

One blow for Fleet was losing midfielder Ram Marwa after only nine minutes with a knee problem.