Gravesend & Northfleet 1-3 Weymouth

After the Kent side dominated the entire first half, eighteen-year-old striker Luke Moore scored his sixth goal of the season to give them a deserved 35^th minute lead.

But Weymouth manager Jason Tindall celebrated his first win in charge since replacing Garry Hill at the helm, courtesy of a brace from half-time substitute James Coutts and a late penalty from Tony James.

Clinical Weymouth managed to score three goals past Lance Cronin despite only creating five goalscoring opportunities in a game that Gravesend & Northfleet should have got something from.

Despite going into the game in fourth place in the Nationwide Conference, just 1,098 fans thought supporting their local team was more important than staying in, or going to their local pub to watch Champions League football on the box.

But the loyal fans at Stonebridge Road saw their side dominate the first half, giving their visitors just one chance.

That chance arrived in the 15^th minute but Cronin was never going to be beaten by a scuffed left-footed effort from Daniel Phillips.

Rob Quinn signalled the Fleet’s attacking intent inside the opening three minutes when his left-footed shot from twenty yards flashed past the right post.

Gravesend & Northfleet created another chance after fourteen minutes when Jon Keeling found Danny Slatter unmarked at the far post but the former Welling United midfielder drove his shot across the goal-mouth before being cleared.

Impressive visiting goalkeeper Jason Matthews was called into action after 22 minutes when he tipped over Charlie MacDonald’s effort from 12-yards.

A cross from Mark De Bolla presented the home side with another chance but MacDonald’s shot ricochet off his strike partner Moore and past the post.

After cutting inside Jon Keeling’s cross was headed across the penalty area by MacDonald, and when the ball fell for Rob Quinn, his 25-yard drive flew into Matthews’ grateful arms.

Matthews made another smart save after 29 minutes when he saved De Bolla’s left-footed volley low to his right.

But the Kent side fully deserved their lead with ten first half minutes remaining.

Left-sided midfielder Keeling slid a pass into MacDonald’s path and the striker’s left-footed cross from the by-line was met by a glancing header from an unmarked Moore, which found the net from six-yards to the delight of the loyal Fleet faithful.

Matthews, now in his forth season at the club, was the busier of the two goalkeepers for the remainder of the half.

MacDonald latched onto Stacy Long’s chip only to see his angled ten-yard shot roll harmlessly to the goalkeeper at his near post.

But Matthews thwarted both De Bolla and MacDonald on the stroke of half-time.

Gravesend & Northfleet, meanwhile, were made to pay for not being able to turn their many first half chances into goals.

Tindall made an inspired half-time double substitution, in which Weymouth born Coutts went on to score a brace.

Pacy striker Raphael Nade rode challenges from Ross Smith and Frenchman Sacha Opinel before being thwarted by a fine penalty box saving tackle from Mark Ricketts.

De Bolla then played in MacDonald but Matthews prevented Fleet’s leading goalscorer MacDonald to score at the near post.

But Weymouth stunned the Fleet by levelling proceedings, against the run of play, after 51 minutes.

Nade played a diagonal pass to Ishmail Welsh out on the left and his cross took a deflection at the near post and Coutts was on hand to rifle the ball into the roof of the net from six-yards in front of the small number of travelling fans.

Fleet responded and Slatter’s rising shot stung the fingers of Matthews before making another smart save after 58 minutes.

MacDonald was played in by Moore but his sliding shot from eight-yards on the angle was kept out by Matthews’ legs.

Weymouth’s third chance of the night fell on the hour when Welsh’s cross caused havoc in the Fleet defence and Nicholas Crittenden should have done better with his shot.

But Weymouth doubled their lead after 64 minutes when Coutts kept his composure to round Cronin to roll the ball into an empty net with his left-foot.

More chances fell Fleet’s way as they tried in vein to salvage something from the game.

MacDonald stroked the ball across the face of goal and Moore was denied at the far post by a brave save by Matthews with 23 minutes remaining.

Matthews then made comfortable saves from Moore, De Bolla and substitute Onome Sodje.

But Weymouth netted a flattering third, from the penalty spot, with two minutes left.