The heroics of Ebbsfleet keeper Mark Cousins were not enough to prevent his team falling to defeat at Wealdstone in the National League on Saturday.

Cousins produced a string of fine saves but Fleet captain Chris Solly saw red late in the second half, in what proved to be the game’s decisive moment.

The Fleet were without top scorer Dominic Poleon - who bagged a birthday hat-trick while on international duty on Thursday - while Wealdstone had two players absent for the same reason, Ashley Charles and Alex Dyer.

Fleet opted for Nathan Odokonyero to lead the line ahead of Shaq Coulthirst while Billy Clifford got the nod against his former club, although he had little impact on the game.

Despite an early scare when a wayward Wealdstone backpass hit their own post, it was the home side that settled quickest in the hot conditions and looked the more dangerous.

It needed a smart Solly block to deny Micah Obiero in the ninth minute before Thavon Campbell dragged his shot wide. A slip by Joe Martin let in Obiero but he was denied by Cousins, who turned his shot behind for a corner.

Wealdstone forced nine corners in the first half, underlining their dominance and the number of saves that Cousins had to make. He denied Abdulsabur Abdulmalik and Obiero again, the latter a stunning one-handed save to his left.

Fleet were unable to get much going, their best chance seeing a big switch of play to set up Ben Chapman. He cut in from the left and saw his right-foot shot pushed away to safety by keeper Jed Ward.

A short corner routine nearly opened up a chance for Luke O’Neill but his shot was deflected wide while another alarm for Ward ended with Toby Edser unable to take advantage.

Obiero took his tally of first-half shots to five before the half-time whistle, forcing Cousins into action again with another fine stop in stoppage time.

The pattern continued at the start of the second half, with Nathan Ferguson next to test Cousins, forcing the Fleet keeper into action with a fierce 25-yard drive.

Franklin Domi had a couple of bursts forward at the other end but was unable to find the final ball or shot on goal,

The breakthrough finally came for Wealdstone in the 64th minute. Campbell turned Joe Martin and brilliantly fired home from 25 yards to beat Cousins.

But the Fleet were back on level terms just three minutes later, Wright’s far-post bullet header converting substitute Craig Tanner’s deep corner.

However, just when Wealdstone appeared to have been stopped in their tracks, they managed to get a hold on the game again.

Solly misjudged a long clearance and when Wright failed to halt the run of Campbell, Solly got back and tripped him in the box. Referee Paul Cooper had no hesitation in reaching for his red card and awarding the spot-kick.

Campbell tucked it away with 15 minutes left to put Wealdstone ahead, although his celebrations in front of the visiting fans earned him a booking.

Fleet boss Kutrieb picked up his third booking of the season for dissent with 10 minutes left.

It nearly got worse for Ebbsfleet two minutes into stoppage time when Cousins made a foul just outside his box but he escaped with a yellow card, the referee deeming Wright was still behind him and therefore it was not a goalscoring opportunity.

Wealdstone also finished with 10 men after Obiero collected a second yellow card in the 17th minute of time added on. The fourth official indicated 12 minutes to be added but the various stoppages - mainly for yellow cards - meant the second half lasted 63 minutes.

Wealdstone: Ward, Cook (Barrett 57mins), Barker, Allarakhia (Andrews 90+1mins), Ferguson, Obiero, Clayden, Abdulmalik (Olomola 70mins), Bowen, Mundle-Smith, Campbell. Subs not used: McGregor, Adarkwa.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill, Solly, Martin (White 72mins), McQueen (Sterling-James 60mins), Clifford (Tanner 60mins), Wright, Edser, Domi, Chapman, Odokonyero. Subs not used: Amoo, Coulthirst.

Referee: Paul Cooper.

Attendance: 1,422.