Fleet at last notched up their first league points of 2005 with this comfortable home win against fellow strugglers, Ashford Town.
The win brought to an end to an embarrassing six-match losing run in the league for Paul Holden's side, and the valuable three points took the side several places up the table, and away from the relegation zone, for the moment.
This was the first of a vital three-match home sequence against some of the weaker league sides, and for Holden this was a must-win game, if his side was to avoid a relegation dogfight come the season end.
In the end it was a comfortable win thanks to goals from striker, David OcQuaye in the 45th, and Phil Archbold in the 71st minutes, although if the visitors had taken any of many chances, the final result could have been much closer.
Fleet got the better of the first half-hour, and should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when Jermaine Hamilton was picked out by a fine cross from the left by Neil Morant. But the striker's volley rocketed over the bar from barely 5 yards out.
Ashford then fought back into the game, and enjoyed a period of good possession and should themselves have taken the lead six minutes later when a cross from Jonathan Thorogood picked out his brother, Joby, but the header went harmlessly over the bar.
At the other end, Fleet skipper, Steve Riley then went close, also with a header, but Ashford keeper, John Whitehouse made an easy save.
With the first-half moving into injury time, Fleet then scored, Ocquaye finishing off a fine move down the left, and running on to a great pass from Bernard Asante. Whitehouse had no chance with OcQuaye's powerful strike across the face of the goal and into the far corner.
Ashford came out strongly after the break, and within minutes could have squared things, when Jonathan Thorogood went clear through on goal, but from only a few yards out, somehow managed to blast the ball wide of the target.
Then on 71 minutes, Fleet extended their lead, mid-fielder, Phil Archbold picking up a loose clearance from an Ashford defender, and blasting the ball from 25 yards, past an out-stretched Whitehouse, for his first senior goal for the Fleet club.
But the visitors continued to create chances at the other end, the best falling to Paul Jones, who could have done better when clear through on goal, but again the finishing was poor.
With 15 minutes to go, OcQuaye could have made it 3-0, after another good passing move down the left. The striker's shot beat Whitehouse, but rebounded off the post, and was just cleared before the powerful front-man could follow up his strike.
