Ebbsfleet were pegged back at Maidenhead on Tuesday night.

They took an early lead at York Road when Michael Cheek scored his third goal in two matches.

But it finished all square after a brilliant free-kick from debutant Reece Cole brought the Magpies level.

New signing Cody McDonald was on the bench for Ebbsfleet as Garry Hill named the same team which beat FC Halifax 4-0 at the weekend.

Lawrie Wilson kept his place at right-back with Sam Magri among the substitutes having served his one-match suspension.

For the home side, cult hero Dave Tarpey went straight into the starting line-up having rejoined on loan from Barnet.

Ebbsfleet looked very assured in the first half, taking good care in possession and working hard to win the ball back when they lost it.

Corey Whitely's low shot from 18 yards forced a low save from Carl Pentney and good work by Myles Weston got Fleet up the pitch down the right-hand side.

The deadlock was broken on 14 minutes, with Chris Bush pinging a pass into Cheek's feet. He knocked the ball back to Whitely, spun in behind and, running onto the return through-ball, slotted a low shot under Pentney.

It was the finish of a man in form, with Cheek opening up his body for the shot as soon as Whitely picked him out.

Ebbsfleet lost Andy Drury to injury moments later but continued to boss midfield with Ebou Adams picking up the pace alongside Jack Payne.

Payne, snapping into tackles, gave Maidenhead no time to get set while Cheek was looking increasingly at home alongside Danny Kedwell up front.

The Magpies were offering little going forward but a moment of laxity almost gifted them an equaliser. Bush's pass sold Dave Winfield short and Nathan Ashmore had to be alert to keep out Adrian Clifton's low effort.

Ebbsfleet spent the latter stages of the first half on the back foot but were in determined mood, throwing themselves in front of several shots as Maidenhead peppered the penalty area with a few crosses and long throws.

Ayo Obileye's long shot at the start of the second half didn't trouble Ashmore, although his opposite number Pentney was called into action when the marauding Bush set up Cheek for a shot at the end of a lovely Fleet passing move.

Pentney came to Maidenhead's rescue again moments later, diving low to his right to deny Weston after Cheek had led a counter-attack and spread the ball wide.

It was all Fleet for a while and when Payne's free-kick reached Adams at the back post, he drove the ball into a crowded penalty area and it ricocheted wide.

When Maidenhead did get forward, the visitors were so quick to get back in their shape with two banks of four protecting the penalty area.

However, when Adams bundled into Clifton, 25 yards out, Ashmore was beaten by a brilliant free-kick from substitute Cole which flew in for the equaliser.

Maidenhead had their tails up now and sensed the game might be there to win, putting the pressure on from a series of set pieces, with Alan Massey crashing a shot over.

But the visitors finished the match with three strikers on the pitch after McDonald was sent on for his debut nine minutes from time.

Kedwell's header from a deep Bush free-kick looped back across goal and dropped just wide but he finished the game at centre-half with Winfield off the field injured.

Jack King headed wide from a Bush cross in added time and that was the closest either side came to a late winner.

Maidenhead: Pentney, Steer, Odametey (Cole 70mins), Obileye, Kilgour, Comley, Worsfold, Nana Twumasi, Clifton, Massey, Tarpey (Kelly 63mins). Subs not used: Alves, Bird, Owusu.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Wilson, Winfield, King, Bush, Weston (McDonald 81mins), Payne, Drury (Adams 18mins), Whitely (Coulson 70mins), Kedwell, Cheek. Subs not used: Magri, Miles.

Attendance: 1,055.