Hendon 1 Gravesend & Northfleet 1

GRAVESEND & Northfleet managed to salvage a point from their Ryman League, Premier Division, away clash with Hendon on Saturday despite playing the final 30 minutes without a goalkeeper after Jamie Turner's sending off.

On a dreadful pitch, both sides rarely threatened to score in the first period but Andy Ford's side improved in the second half and they grabbed the opening goal within five minutes of the re-start.

Jimmy Jackson began the move with a long ball over the top to substitute Rob Owen who, with a precise cross, gave Steve McKimm the easiest of finishes six yards out. The strike should have relaxed the visitors team but they managed to shoot themselves in the foot 10 minutes later when they conceded the equaliser and were reduced to 10 men at the same time.

After Francis Duku was caught in possession by Martin Randall, Turner rushed off his line to clear the danger but all the Fleet goalkeeper managed to do was bring down the home striker resulting in a red card. To make matters worse for Fleet, the referee, with the help of his assistant, decided the incident had taken place inside the area and awarded a spot-kick, which Jon-Barrie Bates calmly slotted past stand-in keeper Aaron Barnett.

Gravesend: Turner, Lee, Skinner, Lye, Barnett, Duku, Smith (Owen 45), McKimm, Jackson, Booth (Wilkins 60), Parker (Williams 82).