Sorry Fleet fall at final hurdle - for third year running

Gravesend & Northfleet have endured a miserable weekend of FA Cup football, writes Stephen McCartney. 

The Fleet were knocked out of the fourth and final qualifying round for the third successive year, following a sorry performance at Ryman Premier League side Chelmsford City on Saturday.

The Essex side, who were dumped out of the FA Trophy by Maidstone United seven days earlier, scored the only goal of the game though Mario Noto’s seventh minute screamer.

Chelmsford City now welcome Fleet’s Nationwide Conference rivals Aldershot Town in the first round proper on 11^th November.

The Fleet have now been dumped out of the competition to lower league sides for the last three years with Chelmsford City being added to Hornchurch and Kettering Town.

Fleet boss Liam Daish told BBC Radio Kent: “We were not right and we were nowhere near our best form and we were punished for that.

“We have to look at what went wrong and regroup and get ourselves back to the way we should be. We have to forget the defeat and move on.”

And Gravesend & Northfleet’s Ladies side were dumped out of the first round of the FA Women’s Cup, going down 3-2 to higher league neighbours Gillingham at Fleet Leisure yesterday.

Spokesperson Tina Martin said: “The first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup produced a home tie and local derby for Fleet Ladies against higher league opposition Gillingham Ladies, which always produces a tough and physical encounter for the local rivals.

“Coming comfortably through the three qualifying rounds, Fleet were more than up for the challenge and looking forward to the tie and the break in current league fixtures, to demonstrate the belief that they could play in the league above if opportunity arose after this season.”

The match started at a very high tempo, at the request of Fleet’s new manager Claire Shevli, to put early pressure on the away team and not to allow Gillingham to get into the game.

Fleet ladies’ responded to the challenge and the opening 30 minutes they dominated the game, applying plenty of pressure into the final third.

Rewarded for this fantastic start Rebecca Pattenden opened the scoring, overlapping down the right wing from defence, she latched onto a through ball from captain Amanda Spry, and continued her run finishing with a great shot across goal netting in the far corner.

This gave the Fleet a lot of confidence and they continued to force the play and put pressure on the Gillingham team.

Unfortunately Gillingham Ladies were allowed back into the game with a free kick awarded just outside the box for hitting the hand of a Fleet player, the Gillingham player struck the ball well which flew into the top of the net out of reach of Fleet goal keeper Donna Harris.

Gillingham came back into the game for the remaining 15 minutes, with confidence gained from the goal and a little drop of concentration from Fleet ladies they scored again, with a good passing movement down the left wing, which took them into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Regrouping at half time the Fleet knew they had to get back the tempo of the great start and remain with that level of commitment and pressure to get back into the game.

The second half produced a more even performance with both teams battling hard for the win, both teams having periods of dominance and at times cancelling each other out of game through effort and commitment to win.

Gillingham extended their lead with an unfamiliar mix up in fleet defence, and a scrappy few moments in the box, where the ladies were unable to clear cleanly allowed Gillingham to poke the loose ball into the net from close range.

Refusing to give up on the game Fleet ladies worked strongly as a team and forced themselves back into the game when midfielder Lorraine Grinyer smashed the ball home from a tight angle inside the box.

This led to a final 10 minute push from Fleet ladies who gave everything on the day and were disappointed they could not forced the equalising goal, leaving the final result a very close 3-2 win for the away team and Fleet ladies out of the FA cup for this season.

Tina Martin added: “A much improved performance for Fleet ladies, will hopefully reflect on their league form when they return to play next Sunday.”

Crowborough Ladies visit Fleet Leisure, Nelson Road in the London & South East Regional League next Sunday (2pm).

Meanwhile, Fleet’s under 11 girls’ side defeated Long Lane by four goals to one.

Team manager Ben Hall added: “All the girls are doing extremely well, they are becoming a brilliant team, learning and improving every time they play together.

“The rate of development as a team and individuals has been amazing and most importantly the girls are really enjoying the experience.”

Gravesend & Northfleet, who went a goal down, won the game courtesy of goals from Leah Parker, twins Hannah and Charlotte Rayiru and the prolific Chloe Shields.

Meanwhile, Gravesend & Northfleet, one of just two Kentish sides left in the FA Youth Cup, travel to Dunstable Town for their first round clash on Thursday 2^nd November.

Visit Gravesend & Northfleet's website:  www.gnfc.co.uk