Scarborough 2 Gravesend 0

GRAVESEND boss Andy Ford was full of praise for his team’s battling qualities, despite seeing three of his players sent-off at Scarborough on Saturday.

Fleet got off to the worst possible start when goalkeeper Alex O’Reilly was shown the red card in the second minute for a foul outside the penalty area.

Steve McKimm and Justin Skinner also got their marching orders as Fleet producing a battling display to limit the damage. Ford said after the game: “The players who were left on the field produced an awesome performance and I have nothing but admiration for them.

“The referee had a big influence on the result. I have got my own opinions of the sendings-off but want them confirmed by the video.

“With have got to look at the discipline side of our game and if action needs to be taken we will take it but if not then we will let it go.

“Everybody did superb as we were tested a lot on how we could cope with playing with eight men.”

He added: “I believe we will be okay from now on. If we carry on with that attitude we will get out of trouble. It’s all about character.”

Gravesend play hosts to Leigh RMI this weekend, knowing a home victory could move them out of the drop zone for the first time this season.

Although Ford will be without a number of key players, he believes his team are ready to start turning good performances into results.

Ford said: “Playing against a team like Leigh, who have a similar playing budget to ourselves, gives us a great chance to get back into form. I’m confident we can do just that.

“However, we will have to do without our normal back three because Ade Pennock and Robin Trott are out for a few weeks and Francis Duku suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury.

“I brought in Ben Walshe and Rob Haworth on loan but I’m not allowed to select more than two loan players for one game. I still need to get someone else in, so I’m looking for a non-contract player.

“Otherwise I’ll have to move a few players into different positions, like I had to do on Saturday.”