Spirited Ebbsfleet held on with 10 men for a point at home to Yeovil on Tuesday night.

While a draw might not be enough in their fight against relegation come the season finale, it at least showed they won’t be going down without a fight.

Ebbsfleet made three changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Boston on Saturday with Luke O’Neill, Callum Harriott and Franklin Domi replaced by Tyler Cordner, Alex Aoraha and Ben Chapman.

The hosts started brightly enough, looking the more positive side in the early exchanges even though Charlie Cooper had a long-range shot deflected wide at the other end and Brett McGavin’s free-kick sailed high and wide into the Plough End.

For all the Fleet’s positivity, with new recruit George Moncur looking bright on the ball, the closest they came was Morgan Williams’ pass back which saw keeper Ollie Wright hurry back towards his own goal, thankful that the ball was just wide of the upright.

Ebbsfleet lost Todd Kane to injury before the half-hour and Yeovil tweaked with their formation during the break in play, bringing Kofi Shaw more infield and pushing Jake Wannell further forward down the left.

They got a grip of the midfield and enjoyed long spells of possession, albeit without threatening to offer much of an end product, Aaron Jarvis’ hooked effort lacked any power and Shaw shot straight at keeper Mark Cousins.

The breakthrough came seven minutes before half-time with a touch of class by Sean McGurk. The midfielder twisted away from Chapman and then went past Aoraha in a flash before firing in off the upright from 30 yards.

McGurk nearly latched onto a through ball minutes later but Edser got back in time to clear the danger.

Ebbsfleet rallied again in stoppage time, the willing Cosgrave took advantage of a fortunate ricochet to advance forward before his low shot was blocked by the covering Morgan Williams.

Edser and Chapman combined to play in Aoraha but his left-foot shot went wide and Cordner forced Wright into a comfortable save from long range.

The start of the second half was similar to the first with the Fleet enjoying lots of the ball and getting a foothold in the game.

They were rewarded after 57 minutes with the equaliser when substitute Jez Davies’ slide-rule pass behind the Yeovil defence sent Cosgrave clear and his delicate clip past keeper Wright put the Fleet back on level terms.

It appeared to be advantage Ebbsfleet at that stage but within nine minutes they were facing an uphill battle again when referee Robert Massey-Ellis reached for his red card. Mustapha Olagunju tussled with Ciaran McGuckin as he attempted to get into the penalty area and his challenge was deemed to be a professional foul.

McGavin put the resulting free-kick into the defensive wall and McGurk’s follow-up was blocked behind for a corner.

McGurk then fluffed his lines in front of goal, turning a right-wing cross horribly over when it seemed easier to score.

Ebbsfleet’s seemingly never-ending run of injuries continued when Cordner was stretchered off with 16 minutes left.

Valiant Fleet defending saw McGavin’s shot deflected behind and substitute Josh Sims’ pullback was cleared as the hosts got numbers back when it mattered most.

They still had 14 nervy minutes of stoppage time to survive. Not that survival was on Cosgrave’s mind as he caught Yeovil napping and burst into the box on 94 minutes, forcing a save from Wright at his near post.

For the most part, Ebbsfleet were camped on the edge of their own penalty area. Ciaran McGuckin shot harmlessly wide and substitute Anthony Stewart did well to block Jacob Maddox’s shot.

Referee Massey-Ellis booked Fleet boss Josh Wright in the 12th minute of stoppage time after the most ridiculous decision saw a throw-in awarded to the visitors when it was clearly an Ebbsfleet ball.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Kane (Davies 26mins), Olagunju, Cordner (Stewart 74mins), Dallison, Chapman, Aoraha, Edser (Manktelow 81mins), Moncur (Samuel 75mins), Cosgrave, Thomas (Bingham 87mins). Subs not used: Goddard, Odokonyero.

Yeovil: Wright, Williams, Wannell, Cousin-Dawson, Jarvis (Sims 60mins), McGavin (Greenslade 87mins), McGurk (Maddox 77mins), Cooper, Bernard, McGuckin, Shaw (Nouble 77mins). Subs not used: Gould, Whittle, Worthington.

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis.

Attendance: 1,125 (150 away).