Gravesend and N 2 Northwich 2

GRAVESEND & Northfleet just failed to finish the season as the highest-placed part-time Conference side, but maintained their unbeaten run after they drew with bottom side Northwich.

Andy Ford’s men have gone 12 matches unbeaten, but found Northwich a tough nut to crack and had to come from behind twice.

It was the home side who took an early grip on the game, though, and Chris Moore was unlucky to see his second-minute header parried onto the underside of the bar by Ben Connett.

But Victoria took a 14th-minute lead when Steve Garvey easily beat Fleet’s offside trap and smashed his shot off the post before Peter Wright followed up.

Fleet drew level just two minutes before the break when Moussa Sidibe played the ball through to Steve McKimm and the Fleet captain chipped the ball over to the rejuvenated Roy Essandoh, who rose to score the 10th goal of his Gravesend career.

The visitors, managed by Gregor Rioch, son of former Arsenal boss Bruce, restored their lead in the 53rd minute when a Garvey free-kick picked out Chris Ward who swept the ball home from close range.

Substitute Ben Walshe created the equaliser as he delivered a tempting ball for James Pinnock to score with a near-post header.

Ford said: “It was a good finish to the season. We would have liked to have won, obviously, and it wasn’t a great game.

“We wanted to finish above Accrington and be the highest-placed part-time side, but I can’t complain too much.

“We can’t take anything away from the lads. It was a hot day and maybe we expected to win, which is a dangerous position to leave yourselves in, but we maintained our unbeaten run.”

Gravesend: Mitten, Lee, Shearer, Moore (Abbey 76), Rouse, Surey (Owen 64), McKimm, Sidibe (Walshe 61), Drury, Pinnock, Essandoh. Substitutes: Skinner, Wilkerson.