Dominic Poleon scored twice as Ebbsfleet brushed aside 10-man Kidderminster with a brilliant first-half display at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

It was a fitting tribute to late Fleet secretary Peter Danzey, who passed away eight days ago. There was an emotional minute’s silence before the game and a number of Ebbsfleet players embraced his widow Maggie ahead of kick-off. Fittingly, the third goal was scored by Luke O’Neill, who Peter had sponsored in recent seasons.

There was also a minute’s applause among the home fans in the 78th minute in Peter’s memory.

The Fleet made three changes from the team beaten at Gateshead last week with both the returning Craig Tanner and Ben Chapman prominent during a blistering first half.

Kidderminster had enjoyed most of the early action although they seemed to adopt a shoot-on-sight policy rather than a shoot-on-target one with Ashley Hemmings particularly guilty of failing to seriously test keeper Mark Cousins.

But the Fleet soon got into their stride, rookie striker Nathan Odokonyero’s movement and ball retention stood out on his first start in an Ebbsfleet shirt.

Tanner set up Poleon on 21 minutes and when he was thwarted by keeper Christian Dibble, Odokonyero’s goalbound follow-up was cleared behind for a corner.

It was a warning that Kidderminster failed to heed. Two minutes later, a crunching tackle on halfway from Tanner won possession and sent Poleon on his way. His pace got him ahead of Krystian Pearce, and his delightful chipped finish put Ebbsfleet ahead.

Within a minute, Alex Penny was booked for a late foul on Chapman.

Ebbsfleet doubled their lead on the half-hour with another classy Poleon finish. Odokonyero brilliantly dummied O'Neill pass and Poleon burst forward and never looked like missing as he slotted past Dibble.

Kidderminster's task got harder four minutes later when they were reduced to 10 men. Referee Jamie O'Connor showed Penny a second yellow for an awful challenge on Darren McQueen, which must have been close to earning him a straight red in its own right.

The Fleet added a third in stoppage time when a half-cleared corner was played back in by Josh Wright and O'Neill had the simplest of tasks to turn the ball home from close range.

Kidderminster made a change at the break, introducing Reiss McNally at right-back but the Fleet continued to dominate.

A flowing move on 54 minutes nearly saw a fourth goal but Poleon, McQueen and Domi combined to set up Chapman, whose right-foot shot was always rising over Dibble’s crossbar.

Poleon was withdrawn on the hour, presumably with one eye on Monday’s league trip to Barnet.

Referee Jamie O’Connor also failed to complete the 90 minutes, coming off injured with 16 minutes left to be replaced by fourth official Harry Price.

Tanner’s performance deserved a goal and he nearly got a spectacular one late on as the Fleet coasted to the final whistle but his effort was saved by DIbble before he stepped onto McQueen’s cross but fired over the bar.

Substitute David Amoo nearly got his first Fleet goal with a minute left but keeper Dibble made a fine save with his legs to deny him after substitute Billy Clifford’s excellent tackle set up the chance.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill (Hollis 69mins), Solly, Wakely, McQueen, Wright, Tanner, Domi (Clifford 77mins), Chapman, Poleon (Amoo 61mins), Odokonyero. Subs not used: Edser, Coulthirst.

Kidderminster: Dibble, Penny, Richards, Knight-Percival, Pearce (Phillips 82mins), Leesley (Lissimore 60mins), Hemmings, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Brown, McDonagh, Maguire (McNally 46mins). Subs not used: Morgan-Smith, Hall.

Referee: Jamie O’Connor (sub Harry Price 74mins).

Attendance: 1,356.