Northwich 1 Gravesend & N 2

ASSISTANT manager Phil Handford was full of praise for the patched-up Gravesend and Northfleet side that returned from Northwich with maximum Nationwide Conference points.

Two goals leading up to half-time from Liam Hatch and new signing Tim Cole were enough for Fleet, and left Handford delighted with the players' attitude.

“To go anywhere in the Conference with the injury problems we have got and still win is credit to the players,” he said. “They could all be feeling sorry for themselves that there are players missing or they are being asked to play out of position.

“But instead they are being positive about things and we are pleased with them at the moment.”

Fleet created a number of chances in the first 45 minutes, with Liam Hatch blasting over from 25 yards in the 15th minute, before Che Stadhart fired over the bar from just six yards out.

Jimmy Strouts forced Matthew Parry in the Northwich goal into a save with a 20 yard drive. Parry also stopped a shot from the edge of the area by Jimmy Jackson as Fleet turned up the pressure.

Their breakthrough came when Tostao Kwashi shook off the challenge of Northwich defender Andy Woodward before crossing to the lurking Stadhart. The prolific striker helped the ball on to the unmarked Hatch, who swept it home right footed into the bottom left hand corner from six yards.

Fleet strengthened their grip on the game further when Northwich full back Greg Rioch crashed into Kwashi on the edge of the penalty area and received his second yellow card. From the resultant 45th minute free kick Cole popped up to steer Jimmy Jackson's right wing free kick into the net.

Fleet could have gone at half time with an even more comfortable cushion as Jimmy Strouts shot just wide from 25 yards before seeing his looping header from 18 yards bounce back off a post.

Northwich had to attack in the second half and left just three at the back, but nothing adventurous came from the home side until a Steve Garvey corner was planted goalward by Woodward only for Matt Lee to block the ball on the line.

The Vics pulled a goal back in the 70th minute. Woodward pumped the ball upfield and there was hesitancy between goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson and Cole. Gregg Blundell persisted with his run and pinched the ball off Wilkerson's feet to shoot into an empty net.

Northwich played their best football in the closing stages, but never again opened up the Gravesend defence and when full-back Paul Sturgess was sent off for his second bookable offence it was too late to be of any use to the Cheshire side.

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Sturgess, Watts, Cole, Lee, Jackson, McKimm (Booth 71), Strouts, Kwashi, Stadhart, Hatch (Parker 52). Subs. not used: Turner, Sodje, Grace.