EBBSFLEET United suffered last minute heartbreak as visitors Nuneaton Town left it late to gain a point in a 1-1 draw at Stonebridge Road on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

With both sides needing a win in their quests to avoid relegation, Tom Phipp’s 34th minute volley looked like it was going to give the Fleet three points until Andy Brown levelled the scores with a 90th minute header.

However, it was the least that the visitors deserved after dominating the second half and being denied by the woodwork three times, as well as a string of fine saves from Fleet keeper Preston Edwards.

Manager Liam Daish made one change from the side that had drawn 1-1 away to Barrow, with suspended striker Nathan Elder being replaced by Moses Ashikodi, who made his first start since November following a long injury layoff.

The game got off to a quick paced start, but neither side were able to create too many chances until the 24th minute when Nuneaton striker Louis Moult saw his powerful shot well saved by Edwards.

Fleet then took the lead as a Gareth Gwillim free-kick into the box was poorly dealt with by visiting keeper Lee Burge, allowing Neil Barrett to tee up Phipp, whose sliced volley from 18-yards flew over the keeper and into the net.

Edwards then had to be alert to turn Wesley York’s angled shot away from goal as the Fleet survived the half with their lead intact.

The hosts then began the second half the strongest of the two sides as Ashikodi had a long range shot roll just past the post before Burge parried a close range Jack Saville header from a corner.

However, the Fleet defence gradually began to drop deeper and Nuneaton’s Gavin Cowan hit the post with a looping header in the 67th minute.

Phipp then had a 20-yard dipping strike fly just over the bar before Edwards was forced to save a James Armson free-kick.

The woodwork then saved Ebbsfleet twice more, as York hit the bar with a close range header that he should have done better with before Brown’s driving run and shot cannoned off the bar.

Liam Enver-Marum then produced a good run but shot across goal and wide as it looked like the hosts had done enough to gain the points.

But in the dying stages, Nuneaton won a needless free-kick on the right and Brown headed home from close range to give his side a point.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Howe, Saville (Luzardo 78), Walsh, Gwillim, Barrett (Stone 76), Bellamy, Carew, Phipp, Enver-Marum, Ashikodi. Subs not used: Menz, Azeez, Williams. Att: 695.