Stevenage Borough 2 Gravesend & Northfleet 0

GRAVESEND’S hopes of taking anything from their trip to Stevenage were ended in a moment of madness on Saturday.

Lee Protheroe provoked a mass brawl which saw both sides reduced to 10 men and Fleet on the receiving end of a resurgent Borough side.

Manager Liam Daish was delighted with his team’s performance, but saw all their good work wasted with 25 minutes remaining.

He said: "The game hinged on one silly moment and really that was the turning point."

Stevenage went on to net twice to take the points as they made the most of a tired Fleet side, who were playing their fourth game in eight days.

Protheroe could have no complaints about the sending off, as he deliberately threw the ball at Stevenage winger Albert Jarrett’s face. The home player was also ordered off, which left both sides a man short.

Aftrerwards Daish was unable to defend his player, and from that moment saw the game slip away.

Daish said: "He’s 29 and he’s played a lot of games at this level. He knows the score and should know better. And as much as I’ll defend my players, there are some times when you can’t.

"Before that we were always in control. We were frustrating them, and had more corners and better chances."

Play-off chasing Stevenage soon went a goal up seven minutes later, as Darryn Stamp headed past James Pullen after connecting with Jon Brady’s cross.

Stevenage made it two just before the end when substitute Anthony Elding tucked away to complete the win.

Gravesend’s best effort of the half had seen James Pinnock fire a shot against the bar.

Daish’s side had seen plenty of action and the boss was still happy with the way his under-strength team performed.

He said: "I thought we did very well considering the week we’ve had and the amount of injuries we’ve got. We were brilliant as we were down to the bare bones, with just 14 fit signed players and two PASE lads."

Gravesend: Pullen, Protheroe, Gledhill, Porter, Drury, Deane, Saunders, Surey, Jackson (Lovell 82), Sigere, Pinnock. Subs Not Used: Wilkerson, Essandoh, Groombridge, Moore.

Attendance: 2,008.