Ford's dressing down does the trick

Dartford 0 Gravesend & N 2

GRAVESEND & Northfleet boss Andy Ford gave his players a half-time roasting and they

responded with a rousing display to defeat Dartford in the north Kent derby. Ford was furious with the team's performance in the opening 45 minutes of their big FA Cup, third qualifying round, tie at Stonebridge Road.

But after the half-time dressing down, Fleet's young side came out flying and scored twice through an Eliot Martin penalty and a Robert Owen header. "I wasn't pleased with the first half performance at all because there were lots of things that weren't right out there," said Ford. "I had a

few words to say at half-time and got a reaction in the second half.

"Obviously the penalty was important because once that first goal goes in it makes things a little easier."

He added: "When you have got experienced players they realise what these

games are all about.

"It was a big game and, with the big crowd and everything, it is sometimes difficult for young players such as ours to perform underneath that. But they have got to get used to it because that is what it is all

about and what we want more of.

"The performance in the second half from everyone was very good. It just frustrates me that we have to get really angry in the dressing room to get a bit of passion from the players."

For Dartford it was the end of a successful FA Cup run which has seen them bank a much-needed £16,500 in prizemoney. Coach Micky Crowe was left in charge of team affairs while manager Gary Julians recovered from a hand operation in hospital.

He paid tribute to his side's performance, but hit out at referee Graham Monk's decision to award Fleet a controversial penalty when the game was still scoreless.

"The lads in the dressing were saying it was not a penalty and the Gravesend players did not even know what it was for," he said.