Ebbsfleet manager Harry Watling admitted Christmas came early for Eastleigh on Wednesday night.

An error by Fleet keeper Mark Cousins gifted Eastleigh the only goal of the game in the National League.

The home side improved when they switched formations at half-time, but they never looked like getting back into the game once they fell behind to Scott Quigley on the hour mark.

“A really difficult one to take, consume and evaluate really,” said Watling.

“I don’t want to disrespect the game but it was quite even and I felt it was going to take a moment of magic or a mistake, otherwise everyone walks away with a 0-0.

“In the first half we were a back four with wingers. We felt we could nullify their threats at half-time by making a change and with the two up, we pressed them down the sides a bit more.

“It took their bench a while to work out what was going on but we gave them an early Christmas present so it’s difficult to get a foothold in the game.”

Ebbsfleet struggled to create many clear-cut chances, albeit neither did Eastleigh once they were ahead.

But it’s the lack of a cutting edge from his squad, despite positive build-up play, that stood out for boss Watling.

“I have to look at what we are doing in the final third,” he added.

“Teams work all week to get into the positions we get into at the edge of the box and we’ve got to be more ruthless in those moments.

“It might be taking an extra touch to draw the reaction of a defender rather than thrashing at it and crossing first time.

“We got into some unbelievable areas in the second half.

“We’ve got major confidence problems at the moment on the pitch in terms of belief.

“We need the ball to go in off someone’s shinpad, for something to turn for us. That was a perfect example of us giving away a silly mistake and handing them all three points.”

Report: Ebbsfleet 0-1 Eastleigh

One player who did earn praise was academy product Maxx Manktelow, who came on for his league debut.

“It’s not the first time we’ve seen him,” said Watling. “He’s featured in some competitions before I got here and credit has to go to the guys who are working in the academy.

“He’s not put a foot wrong, he’s low maintenance, high performance, he runs around exactly how you’d expect a young player to.

“When you put a young player on the pitch, they have a natural enthusiasm that is unmatched.

“They have trialist eyes, that hunger and desire, so that was a small positive. If he continues to go along that path, he’ll continue to get minutes while I’m the manager.”