Junior Mendes' strike just after the hour mark gave them some hope, but a resilient Ebbsfleet team never really looked like conceding a second - and they made absolutely certain by scoring an equaliser on the day, with seconds of injury time remaining.
Gary Waddock made four changes from Tuesday night, with at least two of them enforced.
Winfield replaced the suspended Charles and Soares came in for 'flu victim Davies.
Mendes and Smith replaced Gier and Elvins respectively.
Surprisingly the most creative player at the club, Joel Grant, was left on the bench.
If The Shots faithful were expecting an early bombardment of the Ebbsfleet goal they were disappointed, as the home side failed to get into an early rhythm.
In fact it was the visitors who set the early pace when in the opening minute a dangerous cross was flashed across the 6 yard box, but Dean Smith was on hand to clear.
It took until the 19th minute before The Shots had a decent effort at goal when Harding's effort from 18 yards flew just wide of the far post.
Shortly after Soares cut in from the right and unleashed a fierce effort, which Cronin gathered at the second attempt.
After Rhys Day gave the ball away in the 23rd minute, Stacy Long's 25 yard effort landed on top of the net.
The Shots should have taken the lead two minutes later.
After good play from Straker down The Shots left, he found Hylton who slipped the ball through to Soares. The unmarked Shots winger had lots of time and space inside the area, but he showed a lack of composure and his effort was saved by the outstretched leg of Cronin.
The home side continued to huff and puff but they didn't create any further clear cut chances in the half.
Half Time: The Shots 0 Ebbsfleet 0
The Shots had a good penalty claim turned down in the 49th minute.
A cross came over from Louis Soares and a shot at goal appeared to strike the outstretched arm of Chris McPhee.
At the other end an Eribenne effort was tipped over by Bull.
Joel Grant replaced Hylton in the 55th minute.
The visitors had a good opportunity on the hour. The Shots failed to clear their lines and the ball broke perfectly for Stacy Long, who drilled his effort just wide when he should have hit the target.
Scott Donnelly came on for Smith shortly after, and he was immediately involved in the action, as The Shots took the lead.
The substitute showed a nice touch to control the ball and then find Harding, who flicked the ball through for Mendes.
The ex-Mansfield striker made no mistake when hammering the ball through the keepers legs, into the back of the net.
The Rec went wild and the home fans cranked up the volume, as The Shots searched for the all important second goal.
Liam Daish, the Ebbsfleet manager, then made substitutions which left Nade alone up front, as they started a rearguard action with nine men behind the ball.
Lewis Chalmers was working tirelessly in midfield to create an opportunity, and Donnelly was distributing the ball well, but on several occasions Yhe Shots were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net instead of taking a shot.
The linesman became the villain of the piece by raising his flag at least half a dozen times - mainly against Joel Grant - and on at least three occasions the decision looked dubious to say the least.
Despite all this The Shots just couldn't break Ebbsfleet down.
In the last minute even Nikki Bull came up for a corner and then had to sprint the length of the pitch to make a save.
Just prior to this The Shots keeper made an excellent block to deny substitute Purcell.
In the dying seconds of the 3 minutes of injury time Ebbsfleet equalised, sparking joyous scenes from the visitor's bench.
Nikki Bull pushed an effort away but Bostwick reacted quickest to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.
The real damage on The Shots was inflicted during last weeks abject first half performance, which left them with a mountain to climb, and now as the old cliché goes, they can fully concentrate on winning the league title.
TS Ratings:
Bull 6, Smith 6 (Donnelly 7), Straker 6, Winfield 5.5, Day 7, Harding 6, Soares 5.5, Chalmers 7.5, Hylton 6 (Joel Grant 6), Mendes 7, Hudson 6.5.
With thanks to Tongham Shots.