A penalty in the fourth minute of added time denied Ebbsfleet victory at Oxford City.

Brandon Hall had already saved one Bradley Bubb spot-kick when the striker beat him from 12 yards to salvage a draw for the home side.

Danny Kedwell was shown a second yellow card for handball in the penalty area as the visitors defended a free-kick.

Both sides finished with 10 men at Marsh Lane after Aaron McLean had given Fleet an early lead.

Victory for Maidstone at home to Gosport carried them two points closer to Daryl McMahon's side, who are now nine clear at the top of National League South ahead of Tuesday night's home game against St Albans.

Jordan Parkes, who become a father in the early hours of Saturday morning, wasn't involved for the visitors, who played with three strikers from the start. Top scorer Matt Godden was recalled to play alongside Kedwell and McLean.

Kynan Isaac returned for Oxford in one of three changes from their 5-2 hammering at Weston-super-Mare in midweek. Jon Arzamendi and Bubb also came into the starting XI, with Declan Benjamin, Lee Henderson and Matt Whichelow all dropped to the bench.

One name not on the team sheet was Luke Coulson, who recently left Oxford to sign for Eastleigh. Coulson scored a wonder goal in the reverse league fixture at Stonebridge Road and helped turn the game in City's favour when they knocked Fleet out of the FA Trophy in December.

Ebbsfleet came close to scoring inside five minutes. From an Oxford corner, they broke at pace and Anthony Cook crossed low for McLean, who shot straight at Laurie Walker.

Cook was causing City plenty of problems down their left-hand side. He was fouled near the touchline and took the free-kick himself, Tom Bonner getting on the end of it and heading over, although the Fleet skipper was flagged offside.

At the other end, Bubb's shot on the turn deflected narrowly wide of the far post.

But it was Ebbsfleet doing most of the pressing and McLean, who hit Cook's next cross straight at Walker, headed them into the lead on 18 minutes.

Cook whipped a terrific left-wing cross to the near post and McLean got across his man to glance the ball past Walker for his fourth goal in three games.

McLean, a real fox in the box, was also buzzing around to good effect in the middle of the pitch. When the home side lost possession he quickly spread play wide to Cook, who cut inside and drilled a shot against a defender.

Arzamendi almost scored one of the most bizarre own goals of all time when he sliced a clearance high over goalkeeper Walker, turning in relief to see the ball drop onto the roof of the net.

Ebbsfleet, driven on by Stuart Lewis, pressed City all over the pitch. Lewis drove towards the penalty area and got a shot away although his effort lacked power and Walker saved easily.

With the score at 1-0, the home side were right in the game and they almost stole in for an equaliser late in the first half. Anthony Acheampong's touch back to Hall was too light and Bubb latched onto the ball but Hall stood up well to deny the striker as he tried to go round him.

McLean, on the stretch, turned a Matt Fish cross just wide of the post but again the assistant's flag was up for offside as Fleet carried their narrow lead into half-time.

They were just as positive in their play at the start of the second period.

Cook's low ball from the left was fired against a defender by McLean and Kedwell dragged a shot wide with his left foot following a short free-kick routine.

Another excellent Cook cross was just too high for the unmarked McLean but it ran for Godden at the back post and he had two shots well blocked.

Fleet were swarming all over Oxford now and Walker made a brilliant save to claw out McLean's downward header. From the resulting Cook corner, Kedwell nodded over.

But City were awarded a penalty when Isaac dribbled his way to the byline and then into the heart of the penalty area before being tripped. Bubb hit the spot-kick firmly but Hall dived the right way and pushed the ball out.

Oxford, though, were enjoying their best spell of the match and Fleet really had to dig in to protect their slender advantage. They threw their bodies in the way of everything and were tireless in their chasing as Oxford tested them all over the pitch.

But the home side were reduced to 10 men when Reece Fleet was given his marching orders for a rash tackle on Kedwell which sparked an ugly melee in front of the dugouts.

Time was almost up when Isaac went down under Acheampong's challenge on the left-hand side of the Fleet box. Walker came up for the free-kick and although he didn't connect with the cross, Kedwell did - and referee Christopher O'Donnell decided he'd used his hand.

Mr O'Donnell gave Kedwell his marching orders, pointed to the penalty spot again and this time, Bubb smashed the ball straight down the middle.

Oxford: Walker, Bevans (McDonagh 84mins), Lapoujade, Arzamendi, Santiago, King, Isaac, Fleet, Roberts (Whichelow 60mins), Bubb, Lafuente (Benjamin 72mins). Subs not used: Henderson, Piffare.

Ebbsfleet: Hall, Fish, Van den Bogaert (Greenidge 81mins), Lewis, Acheampong, Bonner, Rance, Godden, Kedwell, McLean (Haynes 87mins), Cook. Subs not used: Sheringham, Kissock, Miles.

Attendance: 390.