It was a case of two points dropped for Ebbsfleet United as they conceded a late equaliser to draw 1-1 away at Hemel Hempstead Town On Saturday.

After the Fleet dominated the opening stages and took the lead with a Charlie Sheringham header, it looked like they may have enjoyed an easy three points.

But a toothless second half display cost them dearly and leaves the Stonebridge Road club six points off top spot in the Conference South.

After their FA Cup defeat last weekend, Ebbsfleet manager Steve Brown made one change to his starting XI, with Kenny Clark replacing Shane Huke in the centre of defence.

Hemel boss Dean Brennan fielded a 4-4-2 formation that looked to move the ball out to the wings quickly in order to supply crosses for their tall front line.

The Fleet nearly scored within two minutes of the kick-off.

Sheringham had a header parried by Laurie Walker and when the rebound fell back to the striker, his looping header bounced off the bar and to safety.

The prolific forward was then played through on goal by Billy Bricknell, but Walker was got down well to save.

Fleet then should have had a penalty when Bricknell was blatantly pulled back inside the box, even causing a large tear to appear in the striker’s shirt, but the referee chose to book Bricknell for his complaints.

Ebbsfleet finally took the lead on 27 minutes as Bricknell’s ball into the box found Sheringham unmarked and he did well to head the ball past Walker and into the corner of the goal.

Dean Rance saw a header fly over, but in the final 10 minutes of the half Hemel began to come back into the game and had a goal ruled out when Lewis Toomey volleyed in from an offside position.

The second half was a much scrappier affair - Hemel having more possession, but struggling to break the Fleet down.

Bricknell fired just wide after Rance did well to knock the ball down to him, while Sheringham hit the bar from close range after a superb cross from substitute Huke with Rance then also hitting the woodwork from the rebound.

The deeper Fleet dropped, the more likely it appeared the hosts would equalise, especially with the introduction of Oliver Hawkins, whose presence gave Hemel a target up front to aim at.

Hawkins headed wide when well placed, but Hemel drew back on terms on 82 minutes.

A ball over the top found James Simmonds on the left and with Fleet keeper Brandon Hall off his line, the former Dover player sent a brilliant lob into the goal.

James Potton then had a chance to win it for the hosts in the dying seconds but his low placed shot from the edge of the area struck the post and rolled to safety as both sides settled for a draw.

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Howe, Clark, Acheampong, Palmer (Huke 71), Johnson, Rance, McMahon, Cook, Bricknell (Godden 79), Sheringham Subs not used: Edwards, Corcoran, Sessegnon. Att: 725.