RICKY Shakes scored a brace as Ebbsfleet United came from behind to defeat Basingstoke Town at The Camrose Stadium.
In a scrappy match, neither side were able to create many clear-cut scoring opportunities, but the result was vital for the visitors’ play-off hopes.
Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish made two changes to the side that drew with Boreham Wood, bringing in Ricky Shakes and Ryan Blake to replace Jacob Erskine, who dropped to the bench, and the suspended Derek Duncan.
Basingstoke manager Frank Gray fielded a 4-4-2 line-up with left-winger Matt Warner a constant threat.
The game got off to a quiet start, with both sides’ long ball tactics cancelling each other out.
The first chance came from Warner’s curling free-kick, which he sent narrowly over from 25 yards.
Midway through the half, Ebbsfleet had their first chance as a long pass forward by Clint Easton found Shakes on the edge of the area, but his half volley was well saved by Chay Morris.
The hosts opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark when Stuart Lake found Warner unmarked on corner of the area.
Warner cut in from the left and fired a well-placed shot which was unlucky to hit the post, although Greg Draper was on hand to fire the rebound past keeper Preston Edwards.
However, Ebbsfleet hit back immediately as a long pass into the Basingstoke area was only half cleared to Shakes, who slotted past Morris from 12 yards.
Daish changed things around after the break by bringing on Giannoulis Fakinos and Erskine and these players seemed to give the visitors the composure that was lacking in large parts of the first half.
Shakes came close to scoring a second when his right-wing cross was caught by the wind and hit the bar with Morris beaten.
However, Shakes did indeed get his second goal 15 minutes from time as a period of possession football was followed by a pass into the box by Easton.
It found Shakes, who evaded two challenges before scuffing a shot past Morris and into the back of the net.
Basingstoke were unable to create any chances to equalise as the Ebbsfleet defence held firm to guarantee three points.