Gravesend & Northfleet 3 St Albans City 2

GRAVESEND did what they had to do by beating Conference strugglers St Albans at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

The Fleet took the lead from the penalty spot on 19 minutes. Charlie MacDonald, who scored twice against Northwich Victoria, sent St Albans keeper Paul Bastock the wrong way from 12 yards after Djoumin Sangare had handled Stacy Long's cross.

The lead was doubled six minutes into the second half when Paul McCarthy headed in Long's corner.

But St Albans pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when Sangare atoned for his earlier handball by heading in Lee Clarke's cross.

Gravesend restored their two-goal lead when MacDonald was played through by Ross Smith before rounding the keeper and sliding the ball into the empty net.

Ben Martin scored another for St Albans in stoppage time but it was too late for the visitors.

Gravesend: Cronin, Hawkins, R Smith, McCarthy, Ricketts, Slatter, Long, Moore, Keeling (Coleman 63), Eribenne (Sodje 80), MacDonald.
Subs Not Used: Mott, J Smith, Purcell, Coleman, Sodje.
Attendance: 1,035.

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