Carlisle 2 Gravesend & Northfleet 2

NEW Gravesend & Northfleet boss Liam Daish lavished praise on his new charges as they came from behind to ruin Carlisle’s coming home party on Saturday.

He said: "It was a great point and thoroughly deserved. We worked hard from the start and we matched them in the tackle but to come in 2-0 down was unfair. We were scratching our heads at half-time but the boys worked hard in the second half and we got what we deserved.

"They have a willingness to work hard for each other. That’s what got them near the top at the start of the season and hopefully they can continue doing that."

After weeks on the road following the flooding of their Brunton Park ground, Carlisle were looking to put on a show and had the game by the scruff of the neck at the break.

But Daish, who only took the job on Thursday morning, rallied his troops at the interval and they showed their battling qualities to earn a point.

Fleet more than held their own in the opening exchanges with keeper James Pullen never tested.

In the 33rd minute, Justin Skinner’s cross found Roy Essandoh but he miscued his shot and keeper Matt Glennon was quick to smother at the feet of Manny Omoyimni.

Carlisle broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Magno Vieira beat Pullen to Chris Lumsdon’s free kick and Tom Cowan forced the ball home.

Their second came in the 42nd minute from another set piece as Lumsdon’s free kick was back-headed past Pullen.

Fleet brought on Matt Lovell in place of Jimmy Jackson and his presence paid dividends in the 66th minute when a high Lee Protheroe free kick was nodded down by Jay Saunders and Lovell’s 22-yard volley flew past Glennon and in off the underside of the bar to give Fleet a lifeline.

Nine minutes later, Fleet were level. Protheroe again provided the ammunition with a free kick into the box and Saunders was able to stab the ball home from eight yards out.

Gravesend: Pullen, Protheroe, McCarthy, Porter, Skinner, Drury (Sidibe 90), McKimm, Saunders, Jackson (Lovell 46), Essandoh, Omoyinmi. Subs Not Used: Wilkerson, Surey, Pinnock.

Attendance: 5,284.at the far post to beat Pullen after Gravesend failed to clear the ball.

Just two minutes later the lead was doubled. Fleet were once again punished for giving away a dangerous free kick.

This time Danny Livesey rose highest to nod in Lumsden’s cross, although Daish will be unhappy with the marking in the box.

But Fleet came out in the second half determined to force their way back into the game.

Matt Lovell pulled one back after 66 minutes with a superb volley from the edge of the area and nine minutes later the visitors were level after Jay Saunders stabbed home the equaliser.