Gravesend & N 4 Woking 2

WHATEVER the reason for Fleet's transfer-listing of top scorer Che Stadhart - and manager Andy Ford declines to discuss the matter - the decision has done nothing to dull his predatory instincts.

Saturday's brace in a crucial win took his tally for the season to 13 and further enhanced his appeal.

Dover are rumoured to head the queue for Stadhart, though Fleet fans will surely mourn the departure of a player who has become such a familiar face at Stonebridge Road since his arrival four seasons ago.

"I can confirm that Che is on the transfer-list," was all manager Andy Ford would say on the matter. "I was pleased for him that he scored twice and with luck might have finished with a hat-trick.

"I was pleased with his work-rate at Southport a week ago and thought he gave us a cutting edge today."

In a game Fleet were anxious to win in order to put some daylight between themselves and the Nationwide Conference's relegation dog-fight, Stadhart drew first blood in the 12th minute of a six-goal thriller.

He took his chance well following Mark Bentley's surging run from the back, turning the ball past Woking goalkeeper Robert Burch while grounded. Only some outstanding saves from Tottenham's youth team goalkeeper, signed on loan 24 hours earlier, kept Woking in contention as he foiled Stadhart and skipper Jimmy Jackson.

His saves bought time for Woking who levelled in the 51st minute through Warren Patmore whose equaliser provoked an enthralling second half.

Stadhart made it 2-1 in the 63rd minute after outwitting Tom White only for Woking to equalise two minutes later through defender Chris Collins's angled drive.

Two Fleet goals in as many minutes killed off Woking who fell behind for the third time in the 76th minute when Nick Burton's downward header found the net after Craig Wilkins had glanced on Justin Skinner's corner.

The outstanding Bentley sealed victory in the 77th minute when his header from Skinner's cross was tipped on to the bar by Burch only for the ball to bounce down and cross the line.

"I would think that 48 to 50 points will be good enough to guarantee survival," a happy Ford predicted afterwards.

Gravesend: Wilkerson; Burton, Pennock, Wilkins, Skinner; Bentley, Owen (Strouts 79 mins), White (Kwashi 59 mins), Jackson; Stadhart, Giles. Not used: Evans, Budge, Turner.

Attendance: 1,163.