Gravesend & N 2 Chelmsford Town 0

GRAVESEND & Northfleet progressed through to the next round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable home victory over Chelmsford Town in the first round. With confidence sky high following their superb form in the league this season, the Fleet rarely looked in any trouble and it only seemed a matter of time before they took the lead.

The opening strike eventually did come for Gravesend on 32 minutes when Darren Smith and former Chelmsford player Eliot Martin combined for Craig Wilkins to powerfully head into the net at the far post.

The second period was a much tighter affair with both sides desperate not to concede a goal but the tie was put beyond doubt with just over 20 minutes left when Che Stadhart netted from close range.

Any hope Chelmsford had of pulling the game around disappeared in the build up to the second goal as City's Ian Cousins was dismissed for a late challenge on Fleet's Jimmy Jackson, who was stretchered off with a bad injury to his left leg.

With the visitors reduced to ten men, Gravesend comfortably held on to their advantage to extend their winning streak at home to seven matches.