A late equaliser from Scott Wagstaff denied Ebbsfleet the honours in a keenly-fought derby at Tonbridge in National League South on Saturday.

The Fleet had led through Josh Wright’s first goal of the season just before half-time but Wagstaff ensured the points were shared when he scored with five minutes left.

Fresh from their 7-2 thrashing of Worthing in midweek, Ebbsfleet made four changes as Wright, Haydn Hollis, Greg Cundle and Dominic Poleon replaced Franklin Domi, Chris Solly, Ben Chapman and Shaq Coulthirst.

Play-off chasing Tonbridge, who won 2-1 at Eastbourne last time out, made two changes with Devonte Aransibia and Jordan Greenidge replaced by Jamie Fielding and Craig Braham-Barrett. It means Jay Saunders’ men matched up the Fleet’s line-up with three centre-backs and two wing-backs.

The first half proved a cagey affair with both sides cancelling each other out in the main. Omari Sterling-James had an early cross-shot pushed away by Angels keeper Jonny Henly.

Opposite number Mark Cousins fumbled behind Tariq Hinds’ near-post cross but the home side were unable to make the resulting corner count. Joe Turner then won a free-kick 30 yards from goal but sent his right-foot effort sailing well over the bar.

The Fleet’s Joe Martin escaped a caution after a foul on Fielding just before the visitors went ahead on 42 minutes.

Rakish Bingham played in Sterling-James and he unselfishly squared for Wright. The midfielder hit the bar with his first effort but when the Fleet kept the ball alive, it fell for Wright again and this time his shot took a deflection before beating the wrong-footed Henly.

Tonbridge introduced Aransibia at the break, reverting to a back four. Henly made an early save to deny Cundle after he was put clean through as the home side struggled to create much at the other end.

Poleon spurned a two-on-one break after good work by Bingham as he failed to pick out his strike partner in return.

Angels striker Tommy Wood was booked for a foul before Turner found the side netting for the hosts from the edge of the penalty area. Home boss Jay Saunders turned to Greenidge with just over 20 minutes left as they grew into the contest.

Fleet centre-back Hollis sliced a clearance onto the top of his own crossbar from a right-wing centre, gifting a corner which saw Tonbridge equalise on 85 minutes. The corner was delivered to the far post and when the initial header was not cleared, the ball fell for Wagstaff to stab home from close range.

Aransibia shot over from 20 yards as Tonbridge looked to complete a league double over the runaway leaders but in the end they had to settle for a point, closing the gap to the top seven to just one point in the process. Ebbsfleet's lead at the top has been cut to 15 points with eight games left to play.

Tonbridge: Henly, Fielding (Aransibia 46mins), Braham-Barrett, Miles, Swift, Gard (Fagg 81mins), T Wood (Greenidge 68mins), J Wood, Turner, Hings, Wagstaff. Subs not used: Parkinson, Elva-Fountaine.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill, Hollis, Martin, Sterling-James, N’Guessan, Wright (Domi 76mins), Edser, Cundle (Chapman 90mins), Bingham (Clifford 80mins), Poleon. Subs not used: Jombati, Coulthirst.

Referee: Craig Scriven.

Attendance: 1,770.