Ebbsfleet’s wait for a National League win continued on Tuesday night despite producing their best performance of the season.

Caretaker boss Josh Wright certainly got a tune from the players as they did everything but score against Aldershot at a rain-soaked Stonebridge Road.

Just a day after manager Danny Searle was axed, Wright made four changes from Searle’s last game in charge, the 4-0 defeat at Altrincham. In came Luke O’Neill, Franklin Domi, Mustapha Olagunju and Jim Kellermann.

Giles Phillips, Tyler Cordner, Will Randall and Wright himself missed out from the weekend, meaning eight of the starting XI featured for the Fleet in the previous campaign.

Aldershot made three changes after losing at home to Rochdale on Saturday, with Lachlan Bird, Josh Barrett and Dejan Tetek all starting.

It was nearly a dream start for the Fleet as they should have been ahead after just six minutes. Winning the ball high, Rakish Bingham saw his 20-yard right-foot shot parried by keeper Marcus Dewhurst only for Toby Edser to somehow sidefoot the rebound over the bar.

Immediately, Aldershot forced a one-handed save from Mark Cousins through Josh Barrett.

Ebbsfleet played with so much more urgency and vigour than in the first seven games of the season. Jim Kellermann took the captain’s armband and looked like a new player in an advanced midfield role.

Kellermann produced a tremendous one-handed save from Dewhurst who turned over his 30-yard free-kick that looked destined for the top corner. Dominic Poleon then advanced and, via Bingham, played in Kellermann, whose right-foot shot was saved by the keeper;

Aldershot then controlled the game and possession but Ebbsfleet defended stoutly and kept their shape well. Having got through that spell, O’Neill played in Bingham whose right-foot shot lacked power to trouble the keeper.

What Barrett lacked in physique he made up for with quality on the ball at the other end and he nearly produced a moment of magic to break the deadlock on 36 minutes. His chip on the turn looked destined for the far corner but Cousins produced a stunning one-handed stop to tip the ball to safety.

Kellermann continued to enjoy the freedom of his new role, clever flicks and good movement from the likes of Bingham and Edser making the Fleet a more dynamic team than so far this season.

Another golden chance arrived four minutes before the break when Kellermann and Bingham combined to play in Poleon, who cut inside before shooting low across goal - only for the ball to somehow go wide when it seemed easier to score.

Ebbsfleet were given a warning moments later, though, when they left themselves two-on-two at the back but Barrett was unable to take advantage as he chipped his effort well over the bar.

Kellermann forced a brave save from Dewhurst immediately after the restart and the energetic Edser made a vital tackle in his own penalty area as the second half started as frantically as the first half did.

Domi then won the ball back on the edge of the Aldershot box but sent his left-foot drive inches wide with the keeper beaten.

Ebbsfleet then forced an error as Dewhurst played out from the back but Kellermann and Domi were unable to take advantage.

The home side should have been awarded a penalty with 19 minutes left when Bingham played in Poleon behind Christian Maghoma who clearly pulled him back as he tried to get his shot away. But referee Faral Hallam - subjected to a series of vocal objections from Shots boss Tommy Widdrington in the first half - was unmoved.

The exhausted Kellermann was replaced on 74 minutes and home fans then got their first sight of new signing Will Randall when he came on for Bingham.

A quickly taken free-kick sent Chapman clear for the Fleet but he was unable to get a decent shot away and still the goal that the Fleet richly deserved wouldn’t arrive.

Aldershot should have gone ahead with 10 minutes left when a swift break ended with Theo Widdrington contriving to send his right-foot shot high and wide from 12 yards.

Within seconds the Fleet were back at the other end and Randall exchanged with Page before seeing his goalbound shot deflected wide when he seemed destined to score.

The tireless Poleon had one more chance, deep into stoppage time, but his shot took a deflection off the defender and went just wide of the far post.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill (Cordner 90mins), Page, Kellermann (Fonguck 74mins), Bingham (Randall 76mins), Poleon, Domi (Tanner 81mins), Edser, Chapman, Olagunju, Dallison. Subs not used: Berry, Cundle, Tanga.

Aldershot: Dewhurst, Bird, Harfield, Maghoma, Widdrington, Hargreaves, Barrett (Henry 64mins), Scott, Akpan, Ghandour (Corbett 87mins), Tetek (Barham 64mins). Subs not used: Stappershoef, R Jones, A Jones, Menayese.

Referee: Faral Hallam.

Attendance: 1,175.