Daryl McMahon hailed Andy Drury's enduring quality after the midfielder made his 200th appearances for Ebbsfleet.

Drury, in his second spell at the club, has started all five matches in the National League so far this season.

He remains one of the first names on McMahon's team sheet despite fierce competition for places in midfield.

"He’s amazing," McMahon said. "He’s brilliant. He’s my brain on the pitch. We were probably similar players in that sense.

"We like a laugh but when we play football, we’re serious.

"He thinks like me, which is important, so he knows what I want.

"I know he’s 34 but he’s still a terrific footballer and for my money, he’s the best one-touch footballer in this division."

Drury set up the opening goal in Ebbsfleet's 3-0 win at Barnet on Saturday.

With a minute of normal time left in the first half, Myles Weston was caught late midway inside the Bees half.

Drury was alive to the run of Danny Kedwell and played a quick free-kick onto the striker's chest.

Kedwell did the rest, turning inside and finishing low past Mark Cousins for the crucial breakthrough.

"He’s always looking," said McMahon of Drury.

"Sometimes people are not on his wavelength. He thinks too fast for some of our players and he’s had to get used to that. He’s a terrific player."

Drury and Kedwell, the two senior members of Ebbsfleet's squad, are close friends off the pitch.

"I've got to help him out sometimes because he's getting old now," Drury joked.

"He had one blocked, turned the geezer inside-out and slotted it in the bottom corner.

"It's always important to get the first goal in these games and today highlighted it.

"We couldn't really ask for much more. We've pretty much dominated the last four games without getting the results we wanted but today we've won 3-0.

"It was nice to get that two-goal cushion. You get to relax a bit more and enjoy it. We got the third at the end, which made it a lot better.

"It's hard sometimes when you've gone 1-0 up and you're playing centre midfield, to get forward.

"You've got that lead to protect and you've got the front four to go out and get the other goals so it was important I kept my discipline."