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Ebbsfleet conceded a winning goal in the last minute of added time at Sutton on Saturday.
It was cruel on the visitors, who looked the most likely winners for much of the afternoon at Gander Green Lane.
But at a ground which doesn't hold many good memories for the Fleet, Gime Toure's last-gasp strike dropped them two places to 10th in the National League.
Garry Hill sent out the same team which started the win against Leyton Orient a week earlier while the home side were missing Jamie Collins and Craig Eastmond.
There were just two points between the sides at kick-off and it showed during a tight first half.
Toure blazed over for the U's inside 60 seconds before James Dobson's well-struck shot from 30 yards forced Nathan Ashmore into a good diving save.
It took Fleet, playing into the wind, a good 10 minutes to get a foothold in the game but when they did, Sam Magri went close with a header from a corner.
Ross Worner then made a brilliant save to deny Chris Bush from point-blank range when another corner dropped at his feet in the six-yard box.
Danny Kedwell had his name taken for catching Harry Beautyman late and the challenge typified a hard-fought contest.
Tom Bolarinwa worked room for a shot after being fed by Beautyman but Ashmore saved easily.
Jack King caught his half-volley from a Payne free-kick sweetly but the shot was straight at Worner as half-chances continued to come at both ends.
Bolarinwa headed a terrific Dobson cross over at the far post before Ebou Adams directed a header from Bagasan Graham's teasing delivery into Worner's gloves.
Ebbsfleet enjoyed a good spell around the half-hour, keeping Sutton pinned in their own half, although they found space around the penalty area hard to come by.
Andy Drury nodded Bush's deep free-kick onto the roof of the net and Kedwell rattled the frame of the goal after collecting a pass from Lawrie Wilson and spinning his man at the near post.
Dobson almost caught out Ashmore with a cross which swirled just past the angle, while at the other end, Graham dinked in a cross which was just crying out to be converted but there was no-one in a blue shirt on hand to apply the finishing touch.
Graham rifled a long shot wide at the start of the second half and Kedwell headed over from a corner, although the referee had already blown for a foul.
Back came Sutton and when Ashmore's poor clearance put his side in trouble, Sam Magri was cautioned for a crunching tackle on Dobson. The free-kick from Dobson was straight into the wall, though, and Ashmore easily dealt with Nicky Bailey's follow-up strike.
Kedwell was furious when the referee missed a clear body-check as he tried to latch onto a ball over the top but the game remained on a knife-edge with an hour gone.
Hill made a double change, sending on Cody McDonald and Corey Whitely - and McDonald almost made an immediate impact.
Running in behind, he tried to touch the ball beyond Worner and was narrowly wide with his follow-up when the keeper made another crucial save.
Payne then rifled a shot over from the edge of the box after Kedwell had done well on the right-hand side to create an opening.
Sutton striker Darren McQueen was given 20 minutes to make an impact against his former club but it was Fleet who looked stronger in the closing stages.
Drury scooped a clever pass through for McDonald and his volley beat Worner but struck the far post.
The home side looked tired and you felt the game was there for Ebbsfleet win as the clock ticked past 80 minutes.
Hill's final roll of the dice saw Kedwell made way for Weston but despite all their late pressure, Ebbsfleet couldn't find a way through.
And they were hit by a sucker punch with virtually the last touch when a corner wasn't cleared and Gime Toure's header bounced down off the underside of the bar and crossed the line.
Fleet had been on the attack just seconds before but Adams' attempted dummy on the edge of the penalty area, which was never on, allowed Sutton to break upfield.
Sutton: Worner, Bennett, Thomas, Beckwith, Bolarinwa (McQueen 70mins), Davis, Toure, Bailey, Beautyman, Williams (Ayunga 70mins), Dobson. Subs not used: Lema, Pearce, Ikebuassi.
Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Wilson, Magri, King, Bush, Adams, Drury, Payne, Graham (Whitely 62mins), Kedwell (Weston 83mins), Cheek (McDonald 62mins). Subs not used: Rance, Miles.
Attendance: 2,108.