GRAVESEND & Northfleet are resigned to losing in-form Mark Bentley for three matches at a crucial time in the club's fight against relegation from the Nationwide Conference.

The club were confident of winning an appeal against the midfielder's dismissal at Kettering a week ago after viewing a video of an incident involving the home team's Craig Norman.

But the Football Association this week informed the club that referee Alan Green's red card stands and that Bentley must serve a three-match suspension starting with Saturday's trip to second from bottom Leigh RMI.

“We've had a moan to the Football Association but they are adamant that the red card stands,” said manager Andy Ford. “We're going to be without Mark for three of our remaining four games and that's a big blow.

Ford declined to name Bentley's replacement for a match the Fleet dare not lose. But with Leigh's own struggle against relegation suffering a fresh setback with Monday's 3-1 home defeat by Dagenham and Redbridge, the pressure will be intense on Saturday.