Gravesend & Northfleet 1 Stafford Rangers 4

CHARLIE MACDONALD'S 12th goal of the season was little consolation for Gravesend as they crashed to a 4-1 home defeat to Stafford Rangers in the Nationwide Conference on Tuesday night.

The visitors took an early lead on 11 minutes when Fleet defender Paul McCarthy diverted the ball into his own net from close range.

It was 2-0 four minutes after half-time when Neil Grayson netted after being found by Guy Madjo's pass.

MacDonald gave the home side hope when he turned in Sasha Opinel's corner just after the hour mark, but Stafford restored their two-goal advantage less than seven minutes later through Madjo.

Grayson headed his second of the night to wrap up the scoring with two minutes to play.

Gravesend are now eighth in the Conference table. They travel to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Gravesend: Cronin, J Smith, McCarthy, Hawkins (Purcell 78), Ricketts (Anderson 57), Slatter, Quinn, Opinel, Moore, Sodje, MacDonald.
Subs not used: Mott, Ekoku, Coleman.

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