Gravesend & N 0 Boreham Wood 1

GRAVESEND & Northfleet's hopes of winning the Ryman League' Premier Division title are still alive despite this surprising defeat at Stonebridge Road in their penultimate game of the season.

With closest rivals Canvey Island only drawing 1-1 at home to Sutton United, the Fleet can guarantee promotion into the Conference with victory at Bedford Town next Saturday, although Andy Ford's side will feel they should have clinched the title already.

During a tight first half of few chances, the visitors could have been reduced to ten men when Lee Harvey pulled down Che Stadhart on the edge of the box, but the referee decided to be lenient and brandished just a yellow card.

The second period was dominated by Gravesend as Jimmy Jackson shot straight at the keeper, Stadhart wasted two chances and, when the Fleet top scorer saw another shot well saved on 77 minutes, the club skipper volleyed the rebound wide.

Within three minutes of that miss, Boreham Wood netted what turned out to be the only goal of the game when Corey Browne slipped past the last defender before calmly slotting the ball into the corner of the net.

The Fleet still had time to salvage something from the game as half time substitute Craig Wilkins blasted one over the top, Paul Booth had his attempt deflected off target and, with seconds remaining, Stadhart saw his goal-bound shot cleared off the line by Sam McCarthy.

Gravesend: Turner, Lee (Parker 66), Burton, Duku, Skinner, McKimm, Smith (Wilkins 45), Owen, Jackson, Booth, Stadhart.