Gravesend & N 5 Scarborough 2

GRAVESEND & Northfleet boss Andy Ford heaped praise on two-goal Liam Hatch but warned that he still has plenty to do before establishing himself in the Nationwide Conference.

The Gravesend striker, a £250 steal from Kent League Herne Bay last season, terrorised the Scarborough defence with his tenacity and persistence as the former Football League club slumped to their heaviest defeat for a year. It was also their first in seven games.

"Liam is still learning and the main thing is that he wants to learn," said Fleet manager Ford. "I'm pleased all his efforts paid off with two goals and two assists.

"Any centre-half who plays against him will know they've been in a game because he never gives up the chase. But he's not established himself yet. He'll need 25 to 30 Conference games under his belt before we can say that about him."

Hatch fired Fleet ahead on eight minutes and headed home his second on 27 minutes. Keith Scott replied in the 42nd minute. But Scarborough had the stuffing knocked out of them within a minute of the restart when the Fleet were awarded a penalty.

Steve McKimm was shoved as he latched on to Hatch's through ball and Che Stadhart scored from the spot.

Scarborough defender Mark Hotte turned Stadhart's shot into his own goal in the 67th minute to make it 4-1 before veteran Scott, the former Dover striker, rallied Scarborough with a fourth in the 70th.

Gravesend skipper Jimmy Jackson sealed victory in stoppage time.

Attendance: 1,259.