Morecambe 2 Gravesend 0

INJURY-hit Gravesend & Northfleet conceded a goal after just 14 seconds as they slumped to a disappointing defeat in the Conference at Morecambe on Saturday.

Fleet, now six games without a win, were left with a mountain to climb after Morecambe's Gary Thompson slotted home with the crowd barely in their seats.

The visitors did recover from the early setback to play some controlled football later in the first half, but captain Jimmy Jackson fired wide and Danny Lye also missed a good opportunity. Che Stadhardt, Fleet's leading scorer, narrowly missed equalising on 26 minutes as the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game.

After the break, Morecambe reasserted their early dominance and Gravesend's chances took a massive blow when defender Aaron Barnett saw red for a foul on Danny Carlton.

Down to 10 men, Gravesend were always chasing the game, and Morecambe made the advantage count after 69 minutes when Lee Elam made it 2-0 from close range. A red card for Carlton 10 minutes from time evened up the numbers on the pitch, but Gravesend failed to get back into the match.

Gravesend manager Andy Ford said: “We knew it was going to be difficult, but once they scored we were always going to be up against it."

Northfleet: Wilkerson, Lee, Skinner, Burton, Barnett, Nutter, Bentley, Lye, Jackson, Stadhardt, Abbott.