Ebbsfleet manager Josh Wright praised hat-trick hero Ben Chapman after he took centre stage on Saturday.

Chapman’s first career treble helped the Fleet beat Maidenhead 4-0 at Stonebridge Road to move within a point of leaders Maidstone in National League South.

The 27-year-old former Gillingham youngster was the Fleet’s player-of-the-year last season and he took his tally to five goals in as many games.

“I left him on, not the only reason but I wanted him to get his hat-trick,” said Wright.

“The first two goals were sensational team goals, but the finishes as well.

“Chaps is Chaps, we know how good he can be. We know how good he was last season.

“I would honestly say that he probably had a little bit of a slower start by his own standards at the start of the season but we knew that he'd come good.

“We knew what he'd get to and we gave him a little rest here and there.

“He was sensational but we were sensational as a team - and he can't score them goals without the team.

“He thoroughly deserved that penalty at the end to get his hat-trick and he got his ball signed afterwards.

“Chaps is a great character, he's a great lad and a great personality, and he brings so much to this team.

“I'm delighted for him and long may he continue in the goals because that's a few now that he's got.”

Chapman is the Fleet’s longest-serving player. He’s now scored 26 goals in 329 Ebbsfleet appearances.

Wright hopes his first career hat-trick is just the start in front of goal.

“Chaps is this football club,” stated the Fleet boss. “He's us – he will fight and scrap and he’s got good quality and athleticism.

“He knows this football club better than anyone and he's great to have, like others in the changing room as they're a really good group.

“It’s fantastic he got the goals and hopefully that's the first of more to come in certainly the coming weeks but also hopefully the season.

“I was expecting him to take the penalty, winning 2-0 and coming towards the end of the game. I would have been surprised if someone didn't step up in that situation. But I'd have been happy with anyone taking it as long as it hit the back of the net.”

Ebbsfleet’s performance was again easy on the eye as they regularly sliced Maidenhead apart, despite the wet and windy conditions.

But it was their work-rate off the ball and ability to nullify the visitors that also pleased the boss.

“I thought we were unplayable at times,” said Wright. “We were a really good side today.

“It's very easy to look at what we look like on the eye in possession and everything that comes with it but it's an all-round game.

“We looked solid, organised, fit, robust, and did all the basics right. Everything about us and I thought we were well worthy, well worthy of a 4-0.

“I actually would have been frustrated if it was only 2-0. I was delighted with a clean sheet, of course, but we should have been three or four at half-time and it could have been (more).

“I'm just loving the look of us as a team. We needed to be our very best to beat this side and that's exactly what we were. I thought we were very good.

“Will we be perfect? No. Will we ever be? No. But I think if you want to look at a performance and you want to talk about it, that's right up there.

“In what were awful conditions, we managed it and played them perfectly.”