Fleet hit by Barn blast

11:07am Tuesday 14th December 2004

GRAVESEND's 10-ten game winless Conference League streak continued on Saturday with a 3-1 home defeat to league leaders Barnet.

Despite taking the lead courtesy of an own goal in the 15th minute, Fleet were unable to hang on and eventually shipped three second-half goals.

The game began promisingly for the home side, despite a wretched run of form that has seen them slip into the bottom half of the table.

Twice within the first 10 minutes Roy Essandoh went close with headers the first was cleared off the goal-line by defender Simon Clist, whilst the second was palmed away by Scott Tynan in the Barnet goal.

Five minutes later, the Stonebridge Road faithful began to believe an upset might be on the cards when their side went in front.

Manny Omoyimini twisted and turned past three defenders before squaring the ball, which was beyond his own goalkeeper by Ismail Yakubu.

Moussa Sidibe might have made it two on the half-hour mark, but his shot was well gathered by Tynan.

Minutes later, former Fleet man Liam Hatch went close for the visitors, but his effort was smothered by Jamie Pullen in the Fleet goal.

Fifteen minutes into the second period, however, Pullen was powerless to prevent his erstwhile team-mate from levelling.

The goal came about from a poor clearance by Chris Moore, which fell to the league's leading scorer Giuliano Grazioli, who picked out Hatch running on the right wing.

Pullen was given no chance with his precise shot, and five minutes later he was beaten again when Hatch nodded down to Nicky Bailey, who slid the ball home from six yards.

Ten minutes later the game was put beyond Fleet's reach by Dean Sinclair, who beat Pullen from an acute angle.

Speaking after the game, Fleet manager Andy Ford was philospophical in defeat.

He said: "When they scored, you could see the confidence ebb away from us. The goals we conceded were disappointing, and we got punished.

"We lacked a bit of pace at times, and that caught us out. They didn't have that many chances, but they finished well.

"We tried to hang onto them, but in the end our midfielders couldn't get hold of theirs."

This Saturday, the Fleet are away to Hereford.