Gravesend & N 0 Chester 1

GRAVESEND & Northfleet couldn't make the most of a two-man advantage in the second half as they suffered a home defeat against promotion-chasing Chester on Saturday.

The Conference strugglers enjoyed the better moments in the opening period although Tostao Kwashi couldn't convert when clean through on goal and Nick Burton's header was cleared off the line on 37 minutes.

Chester came out a different side after the interval and took the lead within five minutes when Mark Beesley reacted quickest to toe poke the loose ball over the line after the home defence had failed to clear.

If the home team thought their chances of getting anything from the game were over they gained an unlikely ally on 57 minutes when the referee sent off Chester's Mark Quayle following a late challenge on Nick Burton.

And with 10 minutes remaining, the away side were left reeling when Carl Ruffer's foul on Fleet's Justin Skinner was deemed worthy of a second yellow card.

With just nine players on the field of play, Chester boss Mark Wright put all his men behind the ball and this policy was mainly successful although Gravesend did create one good chance.

However, away goalkeeper Wayne Brown produced a superb save from Fleet defender Jay Lovett's header six minutes from time to earn the visitors all three points.

Gravesend manager Andy Ford maintained: "We played well in the first half, probably the best we've played for a while, but in the second half we didn't have the same momentum.

It wasn't helped by the referee, who spoilt the game, but when they were reduced to nine men they put all of them behind the ball and we struggled to break them down.

"In those situations you need to get some width but we found that difficult to achieve. Although Chester are a very good side, I'm disappointed with the result."

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Lovett, Jackson, Skinner (Stadhart 81), Burton, Bentley, Owen (Hatch 59), McKimm, Kwashi, Wilkins, Evans. Subs: Strouts, Pennock, Turner.