Striker Dominic Poleon came off the bench for Ebbsfleet to earn them a point from their National League game against in-form Southend on Good Friday.
The top scorers for both sides found the net as Harry Cardwell gave the Shrimpers, now unbeaten in 12 fixtures, the lead in the first half.
But Poleon struck less than 10 minutes after he had come on as it finished 1-1.
Toby Edser almost gave the Fleet a perfect start inside 45 seconds at Stonebridge Road in front of a bumper crowd of 4,019. He drifted through a few challenges, only to be denied by the feet of goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi.
The first clear-cut opportunity of the match for the Shrimpers saw Cardwell head a left-wing cross straight at goalkeeper Mark Cousins in the 10th minute.
Shortly after, the home side again went close when Edser made the most of some poor defending.
Playmaker Edser passed to the overlapping Ben Chapman, but his shot crashed against the crossbar, while Andeng-Ndi had to be alert to tip a long-range drive by Dominic Samuel wide.
But Kevin Maher’s side went ahead against the run of play on 20 minutes to the delight of their 1,795 travelling supporters.
Oli Coker whipped in a dangerous free-kick and, although another away man also wheeled away to celebrate, it looked like Cardwell got the final touch to nod past Cousins for his 17th goal this term.
As Ebbsfleet looked for a leveller, Samuel went down under a challenge from defender Ollie Kensdale - sporting a mask to protect an injury to his face - inside the penalty box on 34 minutes.
Referee Lauren Impey controversially awarded a Southend goal kick, though, much to the frustration of the home fans.
More home penalty protests were dismissed shortly before the interval as Edser and then Chapman went to ground, Southend head coach Maher exchanging some views with a member of Fleet staff in the crowd with things heating up.
Eight minutes into the second period, Jack Bridges found Cardwell for the away team. He probably should have doubled his tally for the afternoon but was thwarted by the feet of Cousins.
Samuel did well at the other end, his left-wing cross flashing across the face of goal.
The first Fleet substitution in the 64th minute came as Greg Cundle replaced Bryant Bilongo and top scorer Poleon was introduced for Samuel midway through the half.
With 18 minutes to play, the Shrimpers nearly got a second. Substitute James Morton whipped a ball narrowly wide of Cousins’ left-hand post.
Moments later at the other end, Andeng-Ndi got down low to thwart Edser after he had latched onto a through ball.
Danny Searle’s side got a deserved equaliser with 76 minutes, however. A mistake at the back by the visitors presented him with the chance and the 30-year-old kept his cool to smash past Andeng-Ndi and find the back of the net for his 16th goal of the campaign.
With home defender Tommy Fogarty down after a run up the pitch, Southend played on with seven minutes to play. But Morton blazes just over Cousins’ crossbar.
There was nearly the most dramatic of twists in the last seconds of five minutes of injury time.
A big clearance by Southend keeper Andeng-Ndi was sliced by home defender Myles Kenlock but Cousins, tracking back as the crowd held its breath, made a fantastic - if a little unexpected - save to earn his team a share of the spoils.
Ebbsfleet manager Searle named an unchanged starting line-up from the team which beat Gateshead 4-2 in their last league outing 13 days earlier.
That meant the prolific Poleon remained on the home substitutes' bench - albeit he still had more than enough time to make a big impact on the match.
In-form Southend also stuck with the same team which started Tuesday’s 3-0 victory at promotion-chasing Solihull Moors.
There was only a second National League fixture for referee Ms Impey - her previous one being Boreham Wood's 1-0 victory over Maidenhead last month.
Ebbsfleet complete their double-header at Dagenham & Redbridge on Easter Monday while Southend are at home to Boreham Wood.
Ebbsfleet United: Cousins, Wright, Bingham, Edser, Clifford, Chapman (McQueen 89mins), Skura, Bilongo (Cundle 64mins), Fogarty, Samuel (Poleon 69mins), Kenlock. Subs not used: Tanner, Domi.
Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Ralph, Kensdale, Bridge (Demertrow 87mins), Cardwell (Sandat 56mins), Dackers, Taylor, Miley, Fonguck (Morton 56mins), Coker. Subs not used: Crowther, Waldron.
Referee: Lauren Impey.
Attendance: 4,019 (1,795 away fans).
