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Ebbsfleet United striker Danny Mills on his first goal for the club at Solihull Moors

08:30, 04 October 2017

The celebrations said it all when Danny Mills broke his Ebbsfleet duck on Tuesday night.

Mills' goal was certainly important in the context of the game as Fleet closed out a 3-1 win at Solihull Moors to make it three in a row and four unbeaten in the National League.

But the 83rd-minute strike meant so much more to the tall centre-forward, who joined the club from Whitehawk in the summer.

Ebbsfleet striker Danny Mills Picture: Andy Payton
Ebbsfleet striker Danny Mills Picture: Andy Payton

Mills had featured in seven of Ebbsfleet's previous 13 games, starting two, without finding the back of the net.

But his popularity and value to the squad was underlined when the goal went in as the whole bench erupted, led by Fleet boss Daryl McMahon, while Mills was mobbed by his delighted team-mates.

Mills said: "It’s a great feeling and what summed it up for me was how happy all the boys were for me.

"We’ve gone in the changing-room and all the boys are congratulating me and saying how happy they are for me. That’s extra special for me to know everyone’s behind me.

"Aaron McLean pulled me in the changing-room and said everyone (in the dugout) was jumping up and down. It makes it all worth it.

"Everyone’s so close. We’re together five days a week, we spend 3-4 hours a day with each other and when you have the away trips, you spend even longer.

"The togetherness is something I’ve never seen before at a football club. It’s unbelievable, everyone gets on and there’s no egos.

"That sums it up, how happy everyone was that I scored. When the next player scores, I’ll be as happy (for them) as I was when I scored."

Danny Mills up against Tranmere defender Steve McNulty Picture: Andy Payton
Danny Mills up against Tranmere defender Steve McNulty Picture: Andy Payton

Mills' reaction to being left out of the team week after week wasn't to brood but simply to graft even harder.

He said: "Since the day I walked through the door, I’ve tried to work really hard. I didn’t come to the club expecting to walk straight into the team, I knew I was going to have to work really hard.

"You look at the calibre of player here, Danny Kedwell and Darren McQueen, there are some really good players so I know I have to work really hard to get into the team. When called upon, I’ll do the best I can.

"Every day in training, especially when I haven’t been playing as much, I always try to do extra with Juppy (coach David Jupp) after training, working on finishing and doing a bit extra in the gym.

"I’m in the gym every single day trying to keep myself as fit as possible and moments like this make it worth it.

"It was unbelievable. I love scoring goals, I scored a lot of goals at Whitehawk and each and every one of those was a fantastic feeling but this one was extra special because it’s the first goal at a new club. I hope there’s going to be many more.

"I came on at a point in the game where we were under pressure and needed the third goal to kill the game. The boys played really well, especially in the first half when I thought we were outstanding to get the two goals.

"In the second half we started a little bit slow, they got the goal and then their tails were up.

Danny Mills joined Ebbsfleet from Whitehawk in the summer Picture: Andy Payton
Danny Mills joined Ebbsfleet from Whitehawk in the summer Picture: Andy Payton

"But overall, we’ve come here and given a professional performance. Everyone who played was outstanding and everyone who came on, me, Cookie and Bags, did our jobs as well.

"It’s brilliant to get another three points. We’re on a fantastic run.

"After drawing so many games, it’s great to win back-to-back and hopefully we can go into the game at Macclesfield on Saturday and get another three points."

Mills signed a two-year contract at Stonebridge Road after ending a five-year spell at Whitehawk.

"There was no other place I was going to go," he said. "It suited me down to a T, a young manager that’s been given a long-term deal, there’s stability at the football club, a great owner, great players and great fans.

"I’m the fittest I’ve ever been. It took me a good month or so to get to that level of fitness but I’ve really enjoyed it.

"I really enjoy going in every single morning, knowing I’m going to be doing some hard work. The training sessions are outstanding and all the staff are brilliant.

"I do my extras after training at least 2-3 times a week, I’m in the gym every single day, trying to make sure I’m in the best physical condition I can be in. At my age, I need to keep ticking over, working hard and if I can do that, when I get onto the pitch on a Saturday or Tuesday, hopefully that’ll give me the extra 1% or 2% to get me a goal or close down a defender."

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