The last five minutes before half-time produced Cheshunt goals for Leon Archer and Ryan Wade, and a member of each side was sent off.
When Archer made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute it looked all over, but the visitors responded with two goals in as many minutes from Lewis Godbold and Danny Lopes midway through the half and hit a post near the end.
Two games at Cheshunt in the past week have yielded a total of 11 goals and six red cards.
Tilbury would have claimed second place with a home victory over Sudbury and Emiel Aiken put them on course with a long-range shot after 25 minutes. But ex-Docker Tom Webb made it 1-1 on the hour (pictured by Elliot Mercer: Webb is on the far side) and the points were shared.
Unbeaten Folkestone are second in Ryman South after a comfortable 3-0 home win over Walton Casuals. The visitors were in trouble from the 12th minute when Colin Hartburn was sent off for a foul on Josh Burchell in the box and Darren Marsden converted the penalty.
Casuals did well to hold out until the 67th minute, when Marsden claimed his second, and Liam Dickson snapped up a rebound for the third.
Chipstead made a good start under new manager John Hamsher and three recent signings shared the goals as they beat visiting Horsham 3-1.
Ashley Lodge gave them a half-time lead which was doubled by Tom Jelly immediately after the restart. Charlie Farmer pulled one back but Shane Graham made it 3-1 with 25 minutes still to go.
Juevan Spencer scored with four minutes left to earn Corinthian-Casuals a 1-1 home draw with Herne Bay, who had taken a 71st-minute lead when Calum McGeehan headed home a corner. The point lifted Casuals off the foot of the table.
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