Gravesend 0 Eastbourne Borough 0

GRAVESEND found Conference South side Eastbourne Borough a tough nut to crack in the 3rd round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Fleet were missing three cup-tied players for the clash but still should have had too much for their opponents from a lower league.

Eastbourne had other ideas and nearly took a shock early lead when Fleet keeper Paul Wilkerson sliced an attempted clearance behind for a corner.

The visitors looked the livelier of the two teams in the early stages and it was half an hour in to the match before Jay Saunders forced Lee Crook into a save.

Ford must have given his players a dressing down during the interval because they came out for the second half in more determined fashion.

Striker James Pinnock nearly scored from close range and Roy Essandoh hit the crossbar with a powerful header.

Substitute Manny Omoyinmi caused plenty of problems for the visitors in the last 20 minutes but there was never anyone on the end of his crosses.

Saunders missed two golden opportunities at the death, with Crook tipping one shot onto the bar from point-blank range as Eastbourne hung on to force a replay.

Fleet boss Ford said he was positive his team could still progress to the 4th round.

He said: "I'm confident we can win the replay on Tuesday night. We need to just get through the game and then regroup.

"We weren't very good in the first half but we played a lot better after the break and should have won the game. We had three good chances and didn't take them.

"It's disappointing not to make use of home advantage but we have to go and win the tie away from home."

Fleet could be without Steve McKimm for the replay after he was forced to come off in the first half with a cold.

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Protheroe, McCarthy, Gledhill, Drury, McKimm (Surey 32), Saunders, Pinnock, Jackson, Essandoh, Sidibe (Omoyinmi 72). Subs Not Used: Harris, Moore, Skinner.

Attendance: 862.