Scarborough 3 Gravesend & N 2

A LATE rally just failed to rescue a point for a depleted Gravesend & Northfleet side in a game in which the front men on both sides were always on top.

With Fleet trailing 3-1 from the 49th minute and seemingly unable to find a way through, Mark Bentley struck in the 85th to set up a tense finale, but the visitors just could not find a way through in the time remaining.

Fleet boss Andy Ford said: “It was poor defensively from our point of view and chances were wasted at both ends. We had seven shots on target and if we’d taken 50 per cent of our chances altogether and defended better we would have won.”

Fleet had the best early chances as Gary Abbott saw a header cleared off the line and Craig Wilkins’ shot was well saved by Scarborough keeper Andy Woods.

Scarborough began to assert themselves and Fleet stopper Paul Wilkerson pulled off two good saves before the Seadogs broke the deadlock on 32 minutes.

Gareth Stoker flicked on a Paul Shepherd corner and striker Ryan Mallon, on loan from Sheffield United, chested down and shot home from 15 yards.

Scarborough doubled their lead after 43 minutes when Neil Campbell headed home a David Pounder corner, only for Fleet to hit back just seconds before the break.

Jimmy Jackson launched a free-kick to the penalty box where the unmarked Jimmy Strouts pounced to loop a well-judged header over Woods and make it 2-1.

But Scarborough took a strong grip on the game just four minutes after the break through former Dover striker Keith Scott. Scott latched onto an Anthony Ormerod through ball, shook off two defenders and beat Wilkerson with a shot from the edge of the area.

Fleet kept fighting to get back in the game and Wilkins headed wide from ten yards, while Woods brilliantly stopped Jackson's free-kick and blocked Wilkins’ follow-up.

Bentley finally made it 3-2 after charging unchallenged through the home defence and shooting past Woods.

As Fleet went all out for an equaliser good efforts by Strouts and Wilkins were well saved by Woods but there was to be no dramatic late equaliser.

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Lee, Burton, Barnett, Nutter, Strouts, Jackson, Barr (Carter 62), Wilkins, Bentley, Abbott. Subs. not used: Turner, Skinner, Grace, Coyle.