Chelmsford and Ebbsfleet will meet again on Tuesday night after their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie ended in goalless stalemate at Melbourne Park.

The game lacked any real cut and thrust, both sides having good spells in the game, with creating too many clear-cut chances.

Michael West, a late replacement for Danny Haynes who was injured in the warm-up, went closest to breaking the deadlock, stabbing wide of the far post late in the first half.

Fleet manager Daryl McMahon made five changes from the side that beat Weston-super-Mare in midweek, including giving a debut to goalkeeper Jon Miles, but the former Tottenham youngster had a fairly quiet afternoon.

The game was held up early on when Fleet skipper Dean Rance was involved in a nasty clash-of-heads with City's Luke Daley.

Both players needed lengthy treatment, before continuing, with Rance having his injury covered by a heavy bandage.

Fleet's Jon-Paul Kissock did his best to keep Fleet ticking in midfield, but thoughts of a replay might have been occupying the minds of both sets of supporters long before the final whistle.

City pressed, perhaps feeling this game was their best chance of winning the tie, skipper Mark Hughes going close in almost the last attack of the game, only to slip at the vital moment.

McMahon sent on Godden and Kedwell in the final half-hour, the former putting one effort high over the bar from the edge of the box.

City defender Mark Haines was booked late on, but these Vanarama National South rivals have to do it all again in midweek.

Chelmsford City: Dibble, Haines, Marvel Ekpiteta, Hughes, Marvin Ekipeta, McAuley, Daley, Sawyer (Morgan 70mins) Graham, Adeloye, Girdlestone. Subs not used: Vaughan, Gosling, Henry, Pearce, Lewis.

Ebbsfleet United: Miles, Fish, Howe, Willmott, Clark, Acheampong, Rance, Parkes, Cunnington (Kedwell 67mins), West (Godden 61mins), Kissock. Subs not used: Bonner, Shields, Tracy, Hughes, Johnson.

Attendance: 823.