Gravesend & N 2 Hendon 1

GRAVESEND & Northfleet secured their place in the last 16 of the FA Umbro Trophy with a victory over Hendon in the fourth round at Stonebridge Road last night.

The home side got off to a bright start and had the ball in the back of the net after only 16 minutes when Jimmy Jackson converted Francis Duku's flick-on, but it was ruled out through off-side.

The remainder of the opening period was a tight affair with both teams only creating half chances and that continued in the second half, until the 64th minute when Craig Wilkins scored for the Fleet.

Wilkins played the ball out wide to Jackson and was there to meet the captain's whipped cross with a powerful header from near the penalty spot.

Hendon came close to equalising moments later but Martin Randall failed to hit the target with a free header and that miss proved crucial as Jackson doubled Gravesend's lead with eight minutes remaining.

In almost a complete replica of the disallowed goal in the first half, Jackson sweep home the ball at the far post following Duku's flick, but this time the skipper was on-side.

Steve Forbes made it 2-1 with a fine strike from the edge of the box with four minutes left but the home team managed to hold onto their lead and set up a mouth-watering fifth round clash with Conference outfit Stalybridge Celtic.

Gravesend: Turner, Lee, Martin, Lye (Smith 45), Duku, Burton, Owen, McKimm, Wilkins, Booth, Jackson. Unused subs: Blake, Barnett, Skinner, Stadhart.