Ebbsfleet manager Josh Wright praised his players as they finally caught up with their league programme on Monday night.

The Fleet earned a creditable point at Chelmsford thanks to a brace from Finlay Barnes in National League South.

They sit top of the table having suffered only one defeat in the first 16 games, a run of matches that only started in early September.

After collecting a point at draw specialists Chelmsford, Wright said: “We know it's a tough place to come as we know they're a decent side.

“They've got some very good individuals and a lot of quality on their top line. They're big and strong up top, they run all day and we had to handle that - and we did.

“That's a credit to the boys because on the whole, barring the odd little moment, they did play smart tonight. To come away from home on the back of a 6-0 last Tuesday night, a really gritty performance Saturday to get the 1-0 over the line, to have only one more body available in terms of numbers…come on, let's put some credit on these boys.

“You talk about dig deep and they've done that. Any point, especially away from home, is a good point. You have to respect it, especially on a Monday night.”

Wright wasn’t pleased with the two goals conceded – the timing of the first just a minute after Barnes put them ahead. Then the second goal came after the Fleet’s goal kick failed to beat the press.

“That was the annoying thing with the second goal, because I really honed in on it at half-time, about it's not a night to invite any pressure or any mistakes,” said the Fleet boss.

“We got it wrong, starting from the goal kick, and we've conceded a shocking goal. We've given them two goals.

“Chelmsford are a very strong side in this division. They're very well-backed. They've signed a couple of new players in recent weeks, and they've got a big squad.

“It's a tough place. Mark Cooper is obviously a very good manager. He sets his teams up well, and they ask questions. They were looking to try and hurt us. They were trying to spin it down the side, stick it on us, and my boys stood up to it on the whole.

“At the end, there was only one side who was probably going to go on and win it, and that was us. We've had moments at the end where we could have won the game.

“I am so proud of these boys. To be where we were, 16 games later, to be top of the league, to have churned out all these games so quickly, with Saturdays, Tuesdays, like you'd never seen before and probably won’t see again.

“The injuries that have come, with big players for us, key players, a lack of rotation… I'm a proud man of this group and I've just told them that.

“It's a strong point on a Monday night and it keeps another little run going. It's one of them that you respect and you take for sure.”