Gravesend & N 3 Exeter 2

FLEET made it two wins on the bounce with an impressive victory over the West Country side at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Andy Ford's men had gone seven games without a win before beating Leigh RMI last week and the side played with renewed confidence against the Devon team.

Fleet boss Andy Ford said: “It was a big boost for us to beat a full-time team. A few weeks ago some people were shouting for my head and now I'm a hero. You've got to keep the result in context and not get carried away.”

Pat Gradley had Fleet's best chance of the first half when he had two bites at the cherry attempting to force home a James Pinnock corner on 20 minutes, but City keeper James Bittner scrambled the ball away.

Fleet started the second half with real conviction and took the lead just six minutes after the restart - Ben Walshe's effort squirming out of Bittner's hands for Pinnock to fire home.

Pinnock was then involved in the build-up to Fleet's second goal on 58 minutes, feeding Eddie McClement who crossed for Rob Howarth to head home.

It looked like the home team were heading for a landslide victory when Pinnock grabbed his second goal of the game to make it 3-0 with 20 minutes to go.

Rob Owen released Gradley down the right and his cross allowed Pinnock to pass the ball into the net from close range.

But just as the fans began celebrating a much-needed win, Exeter reminded everyone at Stonebridge Road that they were still in the game.

Within minutes of Pinnock's goal Reiner Moor had pulled one back with a smart finish after Gradley had lost possession.

Fleet kept Exeter at bay for the closing minutes, but their defence was finally breached four minutes into injury time when Santos Gaia shot home.

Gravesend & Northfleet: Wilkerson, Lee, Shearer, Moore, McClements, Owen, Miller (Strouts, 62 mins), Gradley (Drury, 85mins), Walshe, Haworth, Pinnock. Subs not used: Abbey, Perkins, Finn.