Gravesend 1 Carlisle 3

THREE clinical finishes sent Gravesend tumbling to defeat at home to high-flying Carlisle on Saturday at Stonebridge Road.

The Fleet produced a much-improved display against the Conference's biggest-supported club but ultimately paid the price in the final third.

"They were the best side we have played," said Gravesend boss Andy Ford, who failed in attempts to bring in eight different players before the game. "Their movement up front was good and they were fit, strong and organised."

Gravesend fell behind inside five minutes when Magno Viera set up leading marksman Karl Hawley, who twisted and turned Chris Moore with ease before sliding his shot inside Paul Wilkerson's near post.

Slowly but surely, a Fleet side clearly missing the leadership of injured captain Steve McKimm came back into the contest.

In Andy Drury, the home side had the best player on the pitch. There is no doubting the attacking midfielder's ability but he was able to add some application to his talents and gave Tom Cowan a torrid time down the right wing.

Ben Surey somehow failed to head in Drury's right-wing cross and then Drury sent a cross fizzing across goal.

Gravesend deservedly drew level when a Matt Lovell corner was kept alive and James Pinnock marked his recall to the starting line-up with a neat left-foot finish in the 35th minute.

But the Fleet were caught cold by a clinical counter-attack four minutes before half-time when Viera's cross was headed in by the unmarked Peter Murphy.

The game was put beyond the home side on 54 minutes as Hawley ran from inside his own half to collect a through ball over a square Gravesend defence and coolly lobbed Wilkerson from 20 yards.

He should have netted his hat-trick but somehow blazed over from close-range three minutes later.

Ford added: "We've made errors for the goals, individually and as a back four, and they are areas we need to improve."

Gravesend refused to lie down and showed plenty of fight, led by the irrepressible Drury, whose run five minutes from time past three Carlisle defenders ended with a 20-yard shot coming back off the upright.

"I questioned our endeavour last week but I cannot question it today," said Ford. "I got the response from that.

"Andy Drury has got to produce that more, that's the difference between becoming a very good player, he has to do that eight games out of 10."

Gravesend: Wilkerson; Gledhill, Saunders, Moore, Skinner; Drury, Surey, Protheroe, Lovell; Essandoh, Pinnock. Substitutions: Sidibe for Lovell 59min, Omoyinmi for Skinner 80min. Subs Not Used: Mitten, Pennock, Davis.

Attendance: 2,030.