by Andrew Gidley

Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish says his latest rebuilding exercise at Stonebridge Road is only just beginning.

The squad on show in the 3-2 home defeat by a young Reading side on Tuesday night was full of trialists and all were given a chance to impress.

New signing Moses Ashikodi followed up his two goals in the 6-1 win at Tonbridge on Saturday with another, but the best goal of the night was Tom Phipp’s 35-yard effort.

Jack Taylor put the Royals’ youngsters ahead before Ashikodi headed home the equaliser six minutes before half-time.

Two goals in five minutes by Jordan Obita, on loan at Gillingham last season and Brett Williams made it 3-1, before Phipps’ strike.

Daish (pictured) admitted: "A month ago I wasn’t ready for the season to start and dreading it to be fair.

"I am now enthusiastic about the start of the new season and got a bit of buzz back, that’s down to some of the players that have come in already and ones that I might be getting.

"It’s looking a lot better but it’s been a lot of hard work and plenty of phone calls during the summer. I have not had the time to sit on a beach somewhere, there is still plenty to do and we haven’t started yet."

Daish hinted that defender Ryan Blake, who has been on-loan previously, could join the squad, while Ben Greenhalgh also caught the eye in midfield, with the man who used to wear the Fleet No.7 shirt, Michael West, watching from the stands.

The former Welling youngster made his debut at Park View Road at the end of the 2008/09 season, before quitting the club at the start of the following season to take part in Sky One’s Football’s Next Star show.

Fleet’s pre-season friendly against a full-strength Leyton Orient side on Saturday is a special game to mark Daish’s seven years in charge, the club’s longest serving boss.