Yeovil 2 Gravesend & N 2

GRAVESEND & Northfleet had victory wrenched from their grasp in the final minute on an eventful return to the Nationwide Conference.

A lapse in concentration deep in defence allowed Yeovil skipper Terry Skiverton time and space to pick his spot with a low drive wide of debut-making Fleet goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson.

The full-timers, who had spent £25,000 on one player during the close-season, had got out of jail against the part-timers having earlier trailed 2-0.

The match turned with the 57th minute dismissal of Fleet's former Charlton and Millwall defender Paul Sturgess. Sturgess, signed on loan from Stevenage, was ordered off on his debut by referee Alan Woolmer for a professional foul after brining down Yeovil substitute Aboulai Demba.

The decision seemed harsh, especially as Demba appeared to control the ball with an arm seconds before.

Fleet's Mark Bentley opened the scoring with a sweet, left-foot drive after four minutes before Jimmy Jackson made it 2-0 in the 36th.

Nine minutes after Sturgess's explusion, Yeovil replied through Nick Crittenden. The Fleet were within touching distance of maximum points when Skiverton struck.

Fleet manager Andy Ford was philosophical over the dropping of two points. He said: “I would have settled for a draw before the game so I've got to be happy to be leaving here with some reward."

Gravesend: Wilkerson; Lee, Barnett, Burton, Sturgess; Strouts, McKimm (Owen 45 mins), Bentley, Jackson; Stadhart (Booth 63 mins), Hatch (Kwashi 85 mins).

Attendance: 2,948.