GRAVESEND & Northfleet boss Andy Ford saw his side crash 4-1 at Doncaster Rovers and admitted: “We were beaten by a better side.”

It was Rovers’ biggest home win for six months and the margin could have been even greater as they kept up the pressure on Nationwide Conference leaders Yeovil.

Ford said: “It was a difficult game and some of our players didn't perform. You need big performances from players in a game like that and we didn't get too many of them. There are three levels in the Conference now with teams like Doncaster, Chester and Yeovil out above the rest of us.”

After surviving these early scares Doncaster started to boss the game, with Fleet keeper Paul Wilkerson having to make a number of fine saves. He kept out a Robert Gill volley, but was unable to prevent Rovers going ahead in the 37th minute when Jason Blunt netted at the far post.

The Fleet keeper denied Paul Barnes with a good save before the break, but Rovers stepped up a gear in the second half and added another goal through Dave Morley's header on 56 minutes. Blunt got the third from close range and Barnes headed in the fourth eight minutes from time.

Stadhart grabbed a late consolation goal for the visitors with a spectacular 20-yard volley.

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Wilkins, Skinner, White (Strouts 64mins), Giles, Jackson, Pennock, McKimm, Parker (Kwashi 67mins), Bentley, Stadhart. Subs: Turner, Evans, Burton.