Ten-man Ebbsfleet United were forced to settle for a point from a frustrating stalemate against Bath City at Stonebridge Road on Saturday afternoon.

Boss Steve Brown named an unchanged side, with new arrival, former AFC Wimbledon and Bromley man Brendan Kiernan named on the bench, and saw his side boss large parts of the opening half.

Anthony Cook curled a shot over the bar while Charlie Sheringham and Daryl McMahon saw tame efforts stopped by Bath stopper Jason Mellor.

Dean Rance headed wide from a Matt Johnson long-throw while at the other end Brandon Hall parried a Frankie Artus free-kick, with McMahon clearing off the line from a header from a corner from City’s leading marksman David Pratt.

Sheringham headed over from an Aiden Palmer cross in Fleet’s best attack of the half while Matt Godden headed straight at Mellor from close-range and saw another effort tipped over, with Anthony Acheampong failing to convert in a melee from the resulting corner on the stroke of half-time.

After the break the chances were fewer and further between, though Hall tipped a corner over the bar and McMahon saw a free-kick deflected wide at the other end.

The final half-hour was a torturous affair for the Fleet faithful and their misery in the rain was compounded 11 minutes from time when Acheampon earned himself a red card after bringing down sub Andy Watkins on the edge of the box after Ross Stearns had played him clean through.

Kiernan did come off the bench for the final 20 minutes and tested Mellor with a teasing cross, but United were forced to settle for a draw which saw them fall three points adrift of new Vanarama Conference South leaders Boreham Wood, who have a game in hand.