A late goal at Chelmsford on Monday night condemned Ebbsfleet to their second defeat in three days.

Billy Bricknell opened the scoring against his former side although another brilliant Jack Powell free-kick had the Fleet level at half-time.

But after skipper Dave Winfield had been sent off, the visitors conceded again and it's now just one win in seven for the National League South title favourites.

Sam Deering and Sean Shields came back into the Ebbsfleet side as manager Daryl McMahon switched to a 4-4-2 formation. The players making way were Reiss Greenidge and JP Kissock - the latter not even making the bench.

Stuart Lewis was fit enough to be named among the substitutes but defender Mark Phillips missed out again and Danny Kedwell didn't feature for the visitors either.

Among three changes made by Chelmsford boss Rod Stringer were the inclusions of former Fleet players Billy Bricknell and Phil Walsh alongside Corby Moore.

Chelmsford thought they'd scored inside eight minutes when Adam Bailey-Dennis headed home Chris Bush's wicked cross from the right but the offside flag went up early.

The visitors were struggling to get on the ball and Powell resorted to a shot from inside his own half when Dean Rance was fouled. His audacious effort sailed well wide, however, and City were quickly back on the front foot.

Kenny Clark made an important block at the near post when Robbie Willmott, released by Ebbsfleet in the summer, set the overlapping Bricknell free to cross and the hosts then saw another goal ruled out in controversial circumstances.

Willmott's corner from the left was bundled in by Bailey-Dennis and the assistant flagged for a goal but the referee saw it differently and awarded Fleet a free-kick.

But the Fleet simply weren't dealing with balls into the box and when Willmott whipped over a superb right-wing free-kick, there was Bricknell to plant his header firmly past Nathan Ashmore.

The game was drifting away from McMahon's side until, five minutes from half-time, Deering was crudely taken out by Chris Bush as he dribbled towards the box. Powell hit the free-kick from 25 yards and whipped the ball inside the right-hand post with keeper Ross Fitzsimons powerless to keep it out.

Suddenly the visitors came to life and, breaking in numbers just before the break, they could have taken the lead. Deering surged down the right and played the ball low into the box but no-one in a blue shirt could convert the chance.

Fleet started the second half brightly, Aaron McLean directing a downward header wide from Shields' deep left-wing cross.

At the other end, Willmott cut inside from the right but his low shot flashed wide.

Bricknell went closer moments later when he drilled a half-volley goalwards with his left foot but again Ashmore wasn't troubled.

Ebbsfleet came so close to going in front when a Shields cross from the left took a deflection and rattled the near post.

But the visitors' task was made harder when Winfield, having already been booked, jumped in to challenge Bricknell in the air and was punished with a red card.

McMahon took swift action by sending on centre-half Reiss Greenidge for striker McLean to stay with two banks of four for the last 15 minutes.

Ashmore did well to keep out Willmott's swerving free-kick from 35 yards but Chelmsford scored their winner seven minutes from time.

Bagasan Graham waltzed past two Fleet players, strode into the box and, with no-one in blue there to challenge him, fired a low shot across Ashmore into the far corner.

McMahon threw on Bradley Bubb and Darren McQueen in desperation but the game was up and most of the travelling fans had made their way out before referee Lloyd Wood blew for time.

Chelmsford: Fitzsimons, Moore (Jeffers 59mins), Bush, Rees, Bailey-Dennis, Walsh, Willmott, Church, Mullings, Bricknell (Merrifield 89mins), Graham. Subs not used: Haines, Miller, Blanchett.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Cook, Connors, Rance, Winfield, Clark, Deering (Bubb 86mins), Powell, Sheringham, McLean (Greenidge 73mins), Shields (McQueen 86mins). Subs not used: Lewis, Miles.

Attendance: 901.