Ebbsfleet remain top of National League South after a stirring fightback at Stonebridge Road.

They trailed Chelmsford 1-0 at half-time and with second-placed Sutton winning at Margate, Fleet faced the prospect of losing top spot for the first time since September.

But three goals in seven minutes at the start of the second half turned the game on its head and this result means Daryl McMahon's side are alive and kicking in the title race ahead of next Saturday's showdown against Sutton at Gander Green Lane.

Ebbsfleet were unchanged from their 5-0 win at Hayes & Yeading, although striker Aaron McLean wasn't involved. Sam Deering took his place on the bench.

Billy Bricknell was passed fit to start for Chelmsford against his former club in the only change made by caretaker manager Kevin Maher. Bricknell partnered Leyton Orient loanee Jason Williams in attack as the visitors, who arrived on a three-match winning run, lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Incredibly, the home side were behind inside 10 seconds. Matt Fish failed to clear a diagonal ball forward from kick-off, heading it infield, where Bricknell was waiting to fire a fantastic half-volley over Nathan Ashmore's head from outside the box.

The goal stunned Stonebridge Road, although Ebbsfleet did their best to respond.

Good work by Sean Shields inside the box created a shooting opportunity for Jordan Parkes and goalkeeper Christian Dibble did well to push the midfielder's powerful strike over the bar.

Parkes then burst through midfield and shot over before a mammoth clearance from Ashmore looked to have sent Matt Godden clear. Fortunately for the visitors, Dibble was alert, racing out to clear the danger.

Ebbsfleet should have been level midway through the half when Shields hit a low shot which Dibble pushed out to Parkes with the goal gaping. How Parkes managed to lift the ball over from inside the six-yard box, only he will know.

Danny Kedwell had a powerful shot charged down when Parkes laid the ball back to him and Dibble had to quickly adjust his feet when Marvel Ekpiteta's firm back-pass almost snuck past him.

But between those highlights, Fleet's passing was wasteful and they looked nervous in front of the big crowd, and with so much at stake.

Kenny Clark picked up an injury defending a cross late in the first half and he failed to make it out for the start of the second. On came former Chelmsford winger Anthony Cook for his 100th appearance in Fleet colours.

JP Kissock volleyed over and then came the turnaround.

Cook was denied what looked like a clear penalty when he was pulled down trying to meet a Parkes cross but a precise finish from Shields which found the bottom corner meant the referee's mistake didn't matter.

The equaliser brought Stonebridge Road to life but the old ground was really rocking three minutes later. Dibble got down to save from Godden but Kedwell followed in to convert the rebound.

Fleet pressed home their advantage with a third goal on the hour. Godden dispossessed Rory McAuley, rounded Dibble and rolled home his 27th goal of the season and seventh in four games.

Parkes played a lovely pass into Godden's feet but the striker snatched at his left-footed shot, which flashed wide. Kedwell headed wide from a Stuart Lewis cross and Godden almost doubled his tally when Dibble spilled a low Shields delivery from the right.

Lewis lashed a late shot over and Dibble denied Parkes as Fleet finished the afternoon on the front foot - and still top of the league.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Fish, Van den Bogaert, Lewis, Clark (Cook 46mins), Bonner, Kissock, Parkes, Kedwell, Godden (Sheringham 89mins), Shields (Rance 81mins). Subs not used: Miles, Deering.

Chelmsford: Dibble, Girdlestone, Marvel Ekpiteta, Hughes, Haines, McAuley, Bridge, Prestedge, Williams (Monsheju 76mins), Bricknell, Semedo (Graham 24mins). Subs not used: Daley, Marvin Ekpiteta, Morgan.

Attendance: 2,267.