Striker Dominic Poleon came off the bench to earn Ebbsfleet a point from their National League game against in-form Southend on Good Friday.

The top scorers for both sides found the net as Harry Cardwell gave the Shrimpers, now unbeaten in 12 fixtures, the lead in the first half.

But Poleon struck less than 10 minutes after he had come on as it finished 1-1.

Toby Edser almost had given the Fleet a perfect start inside 45 seconds at Stonebridge Road in front of a bumper crowd of 4,019. He drifted through a few challenges, only to be denied by the feet of goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi.

The first clear-cut chance of the match for the Shrimpers saw Cardwell head a left-wing cross straight at goalkeeper Mark Cousins in the 10th minute.

Shortly after, the home side again went close when Edser made the most of some poor defending.

Playmaker Edser passed to the overlapping Ben Chapman but his shot crashed against the crossbar, while Andeng-Ndi tipped a long-range Dominic Samuel drive wide.

But Kevin Maher’s side went ahead against the run of play on 20 minutes to the delight of their 1,795 travelling supporters.

Oli Coker whipped in a dangerous free-kick and, although another away player also wheeled away to celebrate, it looked like Cardwell got the final touch to nod past Cousins for his 17th goal this term.

As Ebbsfleet looked for a leveller, Samuel went down under a challenge from defender Ollie Kensdale - sporting a mask to protect an injury to his face - inside the penalty box on 34 minutes.

Referee Lauren Impey controversially awarded a Southend goal kick though, much to the frustration of the home fans.

More Ebbsfleet penalty protests were dismissed shortly before the interval as Edser and then former Gillingham and Faversham wideman Chapman went to ground, Southend head coach Maher exchanging some views with a member of Fleet staff in the crowd with things heating up.

Eight minutes into the second period, Jack Bridge found Cardwell for the away team. He probably should have doubled his tally but was thwarted by the feet of Cousins.

Samuel did well at the other end, his left-wing cross flashing across the face of goal.

The first Fleet substitution in the 64th minute came as Greg Cundle replaced Bryant Bilongo and Poleon was introduced for Samuel midway through the half.

With 18 minutes to play, the Shrimpers nearly got a second. Substitute James Morton whipped a ball narrowly wide of Cousins’ left-hand post.

Moments later at the other end, Andeng-Ndi got down low to thwart 25-year-old Edser after he had latched onto a through ball.

But Danny Searle’s side got a deserved equaliser with 76 minutes played. A mistake at the back by the visitors presented Poleon with the chance and the 30-year-old kept his cool to smash past Andeng-Ndi to find the back of the net for his 16th goal of the campaign.

It was the first goal Southend had conceded since a 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on March 9, that stalemate being followed by four clean sheets on the spin.

With home defender Tommy Fogarty, on loan from Birmingham, down after a run up the pitch, Southend played on with seven minutes to play. But Morton blazed just over.

There was nearly the most dramatic of twists in the last seconds of five minutes of injury time.

A booming clearance by Southend keeper Andeng-Ndi was sliced by home defender Myles Kenlock but Cousins, tracking back as the crowd held its breath, made a fantastic - if a little unexpected - save. Cousins was also the first to the loose ball to earn his team a share of the spoils.

Ebbsfleet are now 19th, four points clear of the relegation zone. Southend remain 10th.

Fleet manager Searle named an unchanged starting line-up from the team which beat Gateshead 4-2 in their last league outing 13 days earlier.

That meant the prolific Poleon remained on the home substitutes' bench - albeit he still had more than enough time to make a big impact on the match.

In-form Southend also stuck with the same team which started Tuesday’s 3-0 victory at promotion-chasing Solihull Moors.

The game was only a second National League fixture for referee Ms Impey - her previous one being Boreham Wood's 1-0 win against Maidenhead last month.

Ebbsfleet complete their weekend double-header at Dagenham & Redbridge on Easter Monday while the Shrimpers host Boreham Wood.

Ebbsfleet United: Cousins, Wright, Bingham, Edser, Clifford, Chapman (McQueen 89mins), Skura, Bilongo (Cundle 64mins), Fogarty, Samuel (Poleon 69mins), Kenlock. Subs not used: Tanner, Domi.

Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Ralph, Kensdale, Bridge (Demertrow 87mins), Cardwell (Sandat 56mins), Dackers, Taylor, Miley, Fonguck (Morton 56mins), Coker. Subs not used: Crowther, Waldron.

Referee: Lauren Impey.

Attendance: 4,019 (1,795 away fans).