Exeter City 3 Gravesend & Northfleet 0

GRAVESEND were sunk by two early second-half goals against Exeter in the Nationwide Conference at St James’ Park on Tuesday.

Two minutes after the restart, Alex Jeannin put the home side in front with a goal straight from a corner, before Lee Phillips doubled the lead three minutes later.

Steve Flack’s goal 12 minutes from the end ensured play-off chasing Exeter took maximum points.

It was Fleet’s third defeat in a row as a gruelling schedule of matches continued to take its toll on their depleted squad.

There were few chances in the first half, although the ones there were fell to the home side.

Flack headed over from the edge of the box and a 20-yard shot from Paul Buckle was saved by Fleet keeper James Pullen.

Flack again headed over just before the break and Gareth Sheldon’s volley also flew over as the teams went in level at half-time.

Fleet would have hoped to keep things tight in the early stages of the second but, within five minutes, found themselves two goals behind.

With less than a minute on the clock, Jeannin swung a corner in from the right which eluded everyone and ended up in the back of the net.

Phillips then headed the second low into the net from Gareth Sheldon’s pass to leave Fleet with a mountain to climb.

Adrian Deane and Jean Michel-Sigere had a couple of efforts on goal for the visitors but they rarely threatened Exeter keeper Paul Jones’ goal throughout the 90 minutes.

Boss Liam Daish made three substitutions in the space of 15 minutes to try to change the game with Jimmy Jackson, Luke Moore and James Pinnock replacing Andrew Drury, Roy Essandoh and Matthew Lovell.

Dean Moxey twice went close for the home side, before Flack got the third when he scored from the six yard box.