Ebbsfleet came from two goals down only to lose at Sutton in the National League on Saturday.

Second-half goals from substitute Dominic Poleon and Franklin Domi looked like they were going to be enough to lift the Fleet off the foot of the table.

But new manager Harry Watling suffered his first defeat at the helm.

New loan signing Sha’mar Lawson was on the bench for Ebbsfleet, having joined on loan from Millwall until January. The Fleet made one change from the side that beat Hartlepool with Craig Tanner in the starting XI for Toby Edser.

Sutton took the lead after just seven minutes. Josh Wright coughed up possession cheaply near the halfway line and within two passes, Will Davies was played in to fire low beyond keeper Mark Cousins into the far corner.

The half was notable for yellow cards as much as efforts on goal with Fleet duo Lewis Page and Ben Chapman booked alongside Davies and Junior Eccleston for the hosts.

Tanner’s 21st-minute free-kick hit the wall but he then forced a decent save from keeper Steve Arnold when the ball fell invitingly back at him.

Chapman’s cross nearly caught out Arnold but went just over the bar before Rakish Bingham dragged his right-foot shot wide. The Fleet were enjoying plenty of the ball in good areas but they needed to produce more quality in the final third.

In a bid to rectify that, Fleet boss Harry Watling introduced Dominic Poleon at the break but the task his side faced doubled in difficulty when Sutton scored their second goal on 51 minutes.

Good work by Lewis Simper down the left saw his cross expertly side-footed home by Jayden Harris.

Ebbsfleet then turned to Lawson and his impact was immediate. A minute after coming off, good movement down the right saw space created and when the ball was played in Wes Fonguck, he played in Poleon to convert his third goal of the season.

The tide had turned and Ebbsfleet equalised in stunning fashion on 67 minutes. Tanner’s cross was headed clear only as far as Franklin Domi, who produced a 30-yard rocket to find the top corner and make it 2-2.

Within a minute, Nadesan shot wide for Sutton and then Mustapha Olagunju failed to get a decent contact with Chapman’s corner at the other end.

Ebbsfleet appeared in control but Sutton substitute Ed Vaz crossed from the left and the unmarked Nadesan had the freedom of the six-yard box to convert from close range on 77 minutes.

Cousins made a good save to deny Davies and despite a late shift in formation, the Fleet were never able to get back into the contest until they were presented with a golden chance in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Poleon won the ball near the byline but having made a good angle, he was denied by an excellent Arnold save.

Sutton: Arnold, Eccleston (Vaz 46mins), Ransom, Okoli, Waller, Barbrook (Odelusi 68mins), Harris, Simper, Nadesan, Davies, Coley (Sivi 68mins). Subs not used: Sims, Rush, Boateng, Wadham.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Page, Wright (Lawson 55mins), Bingham, Fonguck (John 79mins), Randall (Poleon 46mins), Domi, Chapman, Olagunju, Dallison, Tanner (Tanga 90mins). Subs not used: Berry, Cundle, Ondo.

Referee: Richard Eley.

Attendance: 3,131 (215 away).