GRAVESEND stayed on course for a league and cup double as they reached the fourth round of the FA Umbro Trophy at Histon's expense last night.

Victory left the Fleet awaiting the outcome of today's tie between Hendon and Cambridge, with the winners visiting Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Once centre-back Francis Duku had scored his sixth goal in five games after 10 minutes, the Fleet never looked back and cruised to a comfortable win against plucky opponents from the Dr Martens League, Eastern Division.

Duku was on hand to score from close range after the Histon defence failed to clear skipper Jimmy Jackson's corner.

Goalkeeper Paul Barber, Histon's outstanding player, produced exceptional saves to foil Jackson and Che Stadhart before right-back Nick Burton scored his first goal for the club to make it 2-0 in the 42nd minute.

Robert Owen chipped the ball over the retreating Histon defence for Stadhart to lay it into the path of Burton who beat Barber with a searing shot into the top corner of the net.

Histon substitute Neil Kennedy was out of luck with a shot that struck a post while Fleet's Steve McKimm and Owen both rattled the visitors' crossbar.

Substitute Craig Wilkins assured the club's place in the fourth round after replacing the injured Stadhart in the 75th minute.

He notched goal number 13 for the season with his first touch after the hard-working Paul Booth had created the opening.

Kennedy pulled back a goal in the 80th minute but by then the outcome was never in doubt.

Gravesend: Turner; Burton (Smith 67 mins) Duku, Barnett, Skinner; Lye, Owen, McKimm,Jackson; Stadhart (Wilkins 75 mins) Booth. Substitutes not used: Martin, Coyle, Blake.

Attendance: 460.