Ebbsfleet lost top spot in National League South after being held to a draw at Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday night.

The Fleet dominated the first half and led through Bradley Bubb's early goal.

But the home side turned the tide in the second half and looked a totally different outfit, claiming a deserved equaliser despite some brilliant saves from Fleet keeper Nathan Ashmore - who also saved a penalty for the visitors.

Maidenhead went top of the table thanks to a 2-1 win over Eastbourne.

After a cautious start from both sides, the Fleet took control after 11 minutes. A quick Andy Drury free-kick saw Danny Kedwell's early cross somehow cleared behind for a corner as Kenny Clark closed in.

The resulting corner picked out Sean Shields on the edge of the penalty area. Having stumbled at first, Shields got the ball out from under his feet but his deflected right-foot shot came back off the crossbar.

The ball was cleared behind and the second corner was nodded down at the far post for Bubb to turn the ball in from close range despite the best efforts of keeper Jamie Butler.

Bubb got in behind the Hemel defence with ease at times. He burst clear on the half-hour but Butler was out smartly to save with his body, before the ball bounced just wide of the upright.

Fleet continued to have all the chances with keeper Ashmore a spectator at the other end, despite defending against a strong wind.

Shields fired a left-foot shot across the face of goal before Bubb again got behind the home defence but sent a right-foot shot just over and Drury volleyed wide from the edge of the box.

Deering's energy drove the Fleet forward while Hemel were left to feed off long free-kicks into the penalty area which the visitors comfortably dealt with.

The second half was a different story, however. It looked like Ashmore was going to keep the Fleet ahead single-handedly with a string of brilliant saves.

First he kept out Matt Saunders' 20-yard free-kick before diving full-length to his right to turn over Jake Robinson's penalty.

He then produced an even better save as Tony Diagne diverted Matt Spring's effort goalwards, Ashmore changing direction to tip the ball behind.

Ashmore was finally beaten on the hour as a long ball forward was met by Robinson, whose shot on the turn hit the post before trickling over the line via the unfortunate Ashmore.

It was no more than Hemel deserved as the Fleet struggled to get out of their own half for a 10-minute spell.

As an attacking force, the Fleet were not the same team as in the first half. The odd chance fell their way but Butler - as he did in the first half - was out smartly to thwart the danger, most notably from Kedwell in the closing stages.

Hemel: Butler, Driver, Connolly, Kaloczi, Diagne, Spring, Thalassitis (McNamara 78mins), Saunders, Robinson, Greenhalgh, Mendy. Subs not used: Baldwin, Jackson, Parrott, Henly.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Shields (Cook 61mins), Connors, McCoy, Winfield, Clark, Rance, Drury, Kedwell, Bubb (McQueen 81mins), Deering (Powell 76mins). Subs not used: Mambo, Jordan.

Attendance: 530.