Ebbsfleet moved into the Skrill South play-off spots for the first time this season with a 1-0 win over Basingstoke on Saturday.

The Fleet had to work hard for the points against a Basingstoke side who arrived in north Kent on the back of a five-match winning streak.

But they were good value for the win, their fifth in a row at home, which was secured by a Michael Thalassitis header in the 52nd minute.

Steve Brown named the same Ebbsfleet team which started against Bromley in the FA Trophy seven days earlier. That meant Chris Sessegnon continued at right-back at Joe Howe's expense, while Thalassitis started ahead of Billy Bricknell up front.

There were several familiar faces in the Basingstoke side. Neil Barrett started against his former club, while goalkeeper Louis Wells and left-back Adam Green - who both left Dartford in the summer - were also named in the visitors' XI.

Both sides had early half-chances, Daryl McMahon with an ambitious strike off target for the Fleet before Nathan Smart planted a free header over at the other end.

Ebbsfleet's passing game got them into some good positions and when McMahon drilled a pass wide to Alex Osborn, his low cross caused momentary panic in the Basingstoke six-yard box.

The visitors almost conjured up a brilliant opening goal out of nothing. Manny Williams burst forward and unleashed a shot from 35 yards which left goalkeeper Preston Edwards rooted to the spot. The ball hit the left-hand post and Edwards was fortunate it didn't rebound in off his foot for an own goal.

His opposite number then pulled off a magnificent save to deny Thalassitis. Anthony Cook's deep cross was turned back across goal by Osborn and Thalassitis took a touch before getting away a close-range strike which Wells kept out with his foot.

After a promising start, the game became very scruffy.

Wells was virtually a spectator in the Basingstoke goal, so it was perhaps understandable that he fumbled a dangerous Cook cross before gathering the ball at the second attempt.

There was a moment of danger for the Fleet on the stroke of half-time when Simon Dunn got in behind Sessegnon and squared for Smart, who should have at least worked Edwards. He delayed slightly, though, and that allowed a red shirt to block.

The first half had been tepid but the second started with a bang.

Cook teased his man and floated over an inviting cross from the left, which Thalassitis headed back across goal and into the far corner.

It could have been 2-0 almost immediately. Thalassitis, now with a spring in his step, surged forward and centred for Osborn, who chipped tamely over the bar when he should have put his foot through the ball.

The increasingly influential Cook then dribbled across the face of the Basingstoke area and tried his luck with a low shot which flew just wide of the far post.

Thalassitis was clearly energised by his goal. May turned the ball into his path and the Stevenage loanee delivered a low cross which seemed to deceive Wells as it trickled across the face of goal.

But the visitors then started to threaten an equaliser.

Edwards got down well to save from Green, before Williams volleyed wastefully over when a Green free-kick was nodded down into his path.

Green whipped in another dangerous set-piece which Jay Gasson headed straight at Edwards.

The action kept coming. Cook's deep free-kick from the Fleet left looked to be drifting out but Osborn got a foot to it and the ball looped up onto the bar before bouncing clear.

And left-back Aiden Palmer, looking to score for the fourth game running, then tested Wells with a powerful near-post drive.

Basingstoke came agonisingly close to a last-gasp equaliser. Williams' free-kick from 25 yards out looked destined for the top corner but Edwards dived high to his left to pull off a brilliant save.

That proved to be a match-winning contribution as the Fleet came through three added minutes with no further alarms.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards; Sessegnon, Lorraine, Sankofa, Palmer; Osborn, McMahon (Corcoran 90mins), Rance, Cook; May, Thalassitis (Bricknell 72mins). Subs not used: Howe, Hall, Corcoran, Long.

Basingstoke: Wells; Rice (Holder-Spooner 80mins), Gasson, Ray, Green; Smart, Barrett, Daly, Dunn; Matthews, Williams. Subs not used: Jenkinson, Ibe, Adams, McDonnell.

Attendance: 953.