New-look Ebbsfleet United are through to the last-16 of the FA Trophy.

They knocked out Vanarama Conference club Forest Green Rovers at the PHB Stadium on Saturday thanks to a brilliant first-half strike from Daryl McMahon.

Forest Green played for more than half of the game with 10 men after Dale Bennett was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Fleet debutant Danny Kedwell.

But the Fleet had been bossing the game even before Bennett's dismissal and their visitors from Gloucestershire only came to life in the final 15 minutes of the match.

Ebbsfleet, who beat Welling in the last round, held on to claim a second successive Conference scalp.

This was Jamie Day's first home win as Fleet manager and it sets his side up nicely for what the north Kent club hope will be a sustained push for promotion in Conference South.

All three of Ebbsfleet's new signings started, with Kedwell leading the line following his big move from Gillingham. Theo Lewis played behind him and Stuart Lewis lined up alongside McMahon in the centre of midfield in what was a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The trio's inclusion came as part of a major shake-up to the starting XI by Fleet boss Jamie Day. Preston Edwards returned in goal for his first game in almost four months, while Kenny Clark and Shane Huke bolstered a defence which was missing the suspended Anthony Acheampong.

Anthony Cook dropped to the bench and his place on the wing was taken by Brendan Kiernan. Dean Rance was also named among the substitutes following an ankle injury.

Forest Green, who were unchanged from their 4-1 win over Welling six days earlier, named former Ebbsfleet striker Magno Vieira on the bench.

Swirling wind made attractive football difficult in a scrappy first half.

Ebbsfleet looked to hit Kedwell with their balls forward, while the imposing figure of Jon Parkin provided a similar target for the Forest Green players to aim for.

Giant centre-half Luke Oliver was cautioned for clattering Theo Lewis on the wing but he redeemed himself moments later. A terrific through-ball by Kiernan sent Kedwell racing towards the visitors' goal and Oliver recovered well to block the striker's goalbound shot.

Forest Green were rightly reduced to 10 men just after the half-hour. Bennett caught Kedwell with a shocking late tackle and referee Colin Lymer, after a lengthy consultation with his assistant, pulled out the red card.

The incident seemed to galvanise the home fans. They turned up the volume further when Theo Lewis crossed for Kiernan, whose looping header was cleared off the line.

And the visitors, already a man down, found themselves a goal down six minutes before the break.

The ball was bouncing around inside the Rovers penalty area until McMahon swept a glorious right-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. Goalkeeper Sam Russell stood no chance of saving it.

Ebbsfleet were buoyant and they started the second half in similar fashion.

A terrific volley from Sean Shields extended Russell and Kedwell then flicked Shields' cross just wide. Kiernan burst beyond Clovis Kamdjo and crossed for McMahon, whose shot flew into the Plough End.

Cook came on for Shields, Dean Pooley having already been replaced by Matt Johnson, but despite the personnel changes, the Fleet kept pouring forward, toying with Rovers.

Theo Lewis, on the turn, had a shot blocked, before seeing his cross nodded wide by Cook.

Kedwell rose well to head Johnson's free-kick straight at Russell and the striker's flicked header then sent Kiernan racing away. Kiernan cut inside and pulled the trigger but a desperate block from substitute Chris Stokes forced his shot behind for a corner.

The set-piece was delivered by McMahon and it dropped for the unmarked Kenny Clark, six yards out, who planted his free header over the bar. Fleet could have been out of sight by now and you wondered whether they would rue these missed opportunities.

And, gradually, the tide did begin to turn as Rovers belatedly pressed forward. Their first effort on target arrived in the 75th minute when Parkin's weak shot trickled into Edwards' gloves.

Edwards was beaten with eight minutes remaining, Kurtis Guthrie dinking the ball over him, but the goalkeeper was saved by Huke, who sprinted back to clear off the line.

A brilliant save from Edwards then kept out Clovis Kamdjo's powerful strike from a narrow angle.

It was all-out attack from the Conference side now but Ebbsfleet refused to buckle.

Edwards produced an even better save to keep out Guthrie's next effort and the men in red shirts threw themselves in front of everything.

The pacy Osborn almost made it 2-0 deep in stoppage-time but although his rasping drive was turned behind by Russell, it didn't matter. The final whistle blew seconds later and the home side left to a standing ovation.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Pooley (Johnson 46mins), Huke, Clark, Howe, McMahon, S Lewis, Shields (Cook 50mins), T Lewis (Osborn 77mins), Kiernan, Kedwell. Subs not used: Rance, Turner.

Forest Green: Russell, Bennett, Oliver (Stokes 48mins), Racine, Kelly, Norwood, Sinclair, Kamdjo, Frear (Wedgbury 70mins), Parkin, Guthrie. Subs not used: Vieira, McGrory, Arnold.

Attendance: 1,018.