Ebbsfleet let a lead slip on Saturday when they lost 3-1 away to promotion rivals Sutton.

Steve Brown's side made an excellent start at Gander Green Lane, with Anthony Cook and Billy Bricknell both drawing saves from U's keeper Jason Brown.

Bricknell had another effort saved early in the second half, before Fleet captain Daryl McMahon did open the scoring with a free-kick from 20 yards.

But the home side came roaring back and after Jamie Taylor had levelled the scores, Simon Downer converted Lee Sawyer's cross at the second attempt to make it 2-1.

Ebbsfleet keeper Preston Edwards saved from Kane Haysman but he couldn't prevent Taylor scoring his second, and Sutton's third, in the 86th minute after Haysman's shot had hit the woodwork.

Defeat leaves the Fleet fourth in Skrill South, now just three points above fifth-placed Dover, with four games left. Havant & Waterlooville, who are two points further back in sixth, have two games in hand over both Kent clubs.

Ebbsfleet travel to eighth-placed Concord Rangers on Tuesday.