Gravesend 1 Woking 1

MANAGER Andy Ford, who declared before the match that maximum points were the order of the day, was forced to settle for a draw as Gravesend came from behind to stave off defeat.

The Fleet went into the game labouring under the statistic of one point from their last 18, which had seen them tumble from their early season heights in the Nationwide Conference.

But Ford was happy enough afterwards and declared: "We've stopped the rot, though I would have preferred to have taken maximum points.

"What I want most of all right now is a clean sheet. We had the chances against Woking but paid the price for not putting them away."

Ford confessed his new-look central defensive partnership in debut-making Paul McCarthy and recent newcomer Zeliko Popovich would take time to establish a rapport, though McCarthy seldom put a foot wrong.

The 33-year-old former Brighton, Wycombe and Republic of Ireland international, arrived in midweek from cash-strapped Hornchurch. On first appearance, he more than justified Ford's long-term pursuit of him.

Popovich, also from Hornchurch, volleyed over an early chance after Jay Saunders had headed on Lee Protheroe's corner. Moussa Sidibe also spurned a good opportunity when he shot weakly at goalkeeper Adriano Basso.

Woking took a 65th minute lead through Raphael Nade who turned in a cross from Amos Foyewa.

The Fleet were level within three minutes when Foyewa was penalised by referee Roger East for pushing Andy Drury and Justin Skinner converted the resulting penalty.

Former Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Ian Selley was out of luck with a fierce drive that rattled the crossbar while at the other end James Pinnock shot over.

Gravesend: Wilkerson; Protheroe, McCarthy, Popovic, Skinner; Sidibe, McKimm, Saunders, Drury; Pinnock, Essandoh. Subs: Moore, Lovell, Surey, Gledhill, Pullen.

Attendance: 1,189