Day Tripping!

[Keith]

ooh, it's getting exciting! After loads of work in England over the last few months, I'm now back to doing a day trip for the first time in ages!

Lovely weather and a few pints will make for a nice day... three points will make it perfect!

[ezz]

Thats our play-off push out the window then

[DeeBee]

No, no, no - Keith at CP is fine. It's Aspers coming over we would have to worry about.

[morecambe mick]

No, no, no - Keith at CP is fine. It's Aspers coming over we would have to worry about.

True.

[ockers]

Gravesend 6 Morecambe 0

scintillating spell of four goals in six minutes, early in the second half, completed the rout of promotion chasing Morecambe, and in the process severely dented their Play-Off hopes, as Gravesend & Northfleet recorded their best ever Conference win in this exciting encounter at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Gravesend made two changes from the team that returned from Forest Green Rovers with a valuable away win last Saturday, with Lee Gledhill replacing Lee Protheroe at right back. Protheroe has now returned to Canvey Island after his impressive loan spell with the Fleet. It is common knowledge that manager Andy Ford is keen to sign Protheroe and, no doubt, he will be watching developments at Park Lane with interest.

Also missing from the Fleet starting line-up was Ben Abbey who was disciplined by Ford and not included on the bench. James Pinnock took his place, in the forward line. Morecambe manager Jim Harvey made two changes from the team that went down to a disappointing defeat to Barnet last weekend with the former Northwich Victoria player Chris Blackburn replacing David McKearney who was relegated to the substitutes bench, whilst Shaun Garnett returned to the side in place of Michael Stringfellow.

On a bleak and bitterly cold afternoon, the match started in dramatic fashion when Andrew Drury was injured, on the halfway line, following a high challenge by Garnett. Drury was clearly winded by the over zealous tackle from the burly defender and lay on the ground for several minutes receiving treatment. As he walked to the touchline he revealed the stud marks on his upper chest which was later diagnosed as a dislocated cartilage in his chest, an injury which may force him to miss the next two or three weeks of the season. Referee Mr Melin took a lenient view of the incident and Garnett was fortunate to escape without even a booking. To his credit, Drury returned to the field and was to prove a decisive influence on the match with his powerful running and close control tormenting the visitors’ defence throughout.

After only four minutes, Fleet defender Chris Moore appeared to be pushed, following a right wing cross from Lee Gledhill but Mr Melin waved away penalty appeals. Then, a minute later, Dean Howell flashed a left shot across the face of the home goal. It was a frenetic start to the match and the Fleet went close to taking the lead on six minutes when, following an incisive run from Drury, there was a scramble in the visitors’ goalmouth, before Pinnock’s shot was deflected inches wide of the post.

It was a real end-to-end contest and Shrimps’ full back Keiren Walmsley set off on determined run down the right flank, culminating in a long range shot which was well watched by Paul Wilkerson in the home goal.

Drury and Gledhill then linked up well down the right creating an opportunity for Owen who fired just over the bar from 25 yards out. Then, in a similar move, Gledhill found Perkins, completely unmarked in the six-yard box, with a cross from the right. His header was straight at the Shrimps’ keeper Craig Mawson but, somehow, he allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and turned to watch as the ball, agonisingly, trickled over the line.

Shrimps’ skipper Stewart Drummond was then shown the yellow card for preventing Fleet skipper Steve McKimm from taking a quick free kick, after a foul on Pinnock. Roy Essandoh, playing his last match before returning to Bishops Stortford, then caused panic in the visitors’ defence, twice within a minute. Firstly, his right wing cross just eluded Pinnock at the near post. Then, Mawson redeemed himself for his earlier error, diving to his right to save the striker’s angled drive shot.

Garry Thompson then became the second Shrimps player to be shown the yellow card, in the space of two minutes, for a foul on Steve Perkins on the halfway line. In the 22nd minute, Perkins’ namesake David, created an opportunity for the former Margate player Terry McFlynn who curled a right foot shot inches wide of the far post with Wilkerson scrambling across goal to cover.

After an incident-packed opening quarter, the game then went through a short scrappy spell with the play punctuated by a number of offside decisions. The Fleet continued their first half dominance, however, and Essandoh should have done better from an Owen right wing cross but was unable to direct his header on target and the opportunity passed.

Danny Carlton then became the third Shrimps player to incur the wrath of Mr. Melin when he received the yellow card for lashing out at McKimm on the ground, after being penalised for fouling the Fleet skipper. In the 36th minute, a determined run down the left flank by Pinnock created a chance for McKimm but he fired high over the bar from just outside the box.

After being outplayed for long periods, the Shrimps gradually clawed their way back into the game. Moore sliced a clearance over his own crossbar and from the resulting corner Jim Bentley had a free header but his effort went over the bar. Howell then fastened on to a long through ball, beating the offside trap, but the legs of Wilkerson denied him.

Interestingly, as the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time, one of the Shrimps players went down injured. Presumably, the referee allowed for additional time for this as the Fleet extended their lead in the fifth minute of time added time. The excellent Drury beat the offside trap down the left flank and crossed into the six yard box where Owen had the time and space to pick his spot stooping low to place his header past the despairing dive of Mawson.

The Morecambe directors, in front of me, voiced their disgust at the referee as the players and officials left the field. Curiously, they did not reappear for the second half. At the start of the second half, Shrimps manager Jim Harvey introduced substitute Iain Swann in place of Jim Bentley. In the first minute of the half, McFlynn fired over the bar, from the edge of the area, after the Fleet defence had only half cleared a long Walmsley free kick but it was not long before the Fleet were again in the ascendancy.

A long, diagonal free-kick from left back Justin Skinner found Drury in space on the right and his right foot volley flashed across goal but wide of the far post. Then, a pass from Drury found Essandoh in space on the left. He beat his marker, cut inside and fired a right foot shot just over the bar from 16 yards out.

The game was then over as a contest, when the Fleet scored four times in a devastating six minute spell. Firstly, Essandoh burst down the left and crossed low to the near post. Mawson failed to hold his effort and Pinnock gleefully tapped home the loose ball into an empty net. Then, three minutes later, Pinnock found the overlapping Drury whose instinctive first time pass inside found Owen. He rounded Mawson but was felled by the visitors’ keeper, who was booked for his challenge. Referee Mr Melin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mawson was injured in the process but, after treatment, he stepped up to face Drury who coolly sent the keeper the wrong way.

A minute later, the impressive Gledhill sent in a looping right wing cross and Steve Perkins collected his second goal of the game, directing his header wide of Mawson and just inside the post. The scoring was completed, two minutes later, when Pinnock took advantage of a misplaced defensive pass to beat Mawson with an acute angled drive at his near post.

The Fleet then introduced new signing Tony Battersby from Stevenage in place of Essandoh whilst the Shrimps sent on the former Chester player Ryan Sugden in place of Howell. Mawson was having a torrid afternoon between the sticks and was very relieved to grab a shot from Pinnock, through a crowd of players, at the second attempt.

With the Fleet relaxing a little, the Shrimps forced four successive croners which the home defence dealt with comfortably but in the 69th minute, the visitors should have reduced the arrears after McFlynn combined well with Sugden but the substitute hesitated and the ball rolled harmlessly into the grateful arms of Wilkerson.

When Pinnock was fouled five yards outside the box, Drury stepped up and curled a delightful right foot shot around the wall but just over the bar. With 20 minutes remaining, a mistake by Lee Shearer allowed Sugden in, once again, but Wilkerson smothered his shot with his legs. The Fleet then introduced the much-travelled Oxford United striker Manny Omoyinmi in place of Pinnock. He was immediately involved in the action, outpacing his marker and firing a dangerous looking ball across the face of the goal.

Man of the match, Drury, received a standing ovation, nine minutes from time, as he left the field to be replaced by Moussa Sidibe, brother of the Gillingham striker. Nothing was going right for the Shrimps and they must have known it was definitely not their day when, substitute Sugden then, amazingly, missed the target from just a yard out, shooting over the bar from a Carlton right wing cross. With time running out, Battersby’s pass found the overlapping Skinner. His cross fell invitingly for Omoyinmi who was completely unmarked just six yards out but his header was directed straight at Mawson.

So, the Stonebridge Road faithful were able to celebrate their team’s excellent performance, which, justifiably, received a standing ovation as they left the field. Manager Andy Ford was quick to praise his team. Talk after the match was about the possibility of the Fleet moving up to full time status, as the next logical step in the Club’s development. Ford, rather cautiously, added that the projected cost of such a move would be in the region of £250,000. He was anxious to point out that the club did not wish to over stretch themselves.

For Morecambe, this result is a major blow to their Play-Off hopes. They are very much a Jekyll and Hyde side with one of the best home records in the Conference, but, conversely, only Farnborough and Northwich Victoria have a worse away record this season. With just nine games remaining, it is this statistic, which looks increasingly likely to cost them a place in the end of season shake up.

Full Time 6-0
Half Time 2-0
Attendance 1,061
Goals Perkins 2, Owen, Pinnock 2, Drury
M.O.M Andrew Drury

[morecambe mick]

Missed out on the att......

Wayne Aspinall

[Stanley Bowles]

Gravesend 6 Morecambe 0

scintillating spell of four goals in six minutes, early in the second half, completed the rout of promotion chasing Morecambe, and in the process severely dented their Play-Off hopes, as Gravesend & Northfleet recorded their best ever Conference win in this exciting encounter at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Gravesend made two changes from the team that returned from Forest Green Rovers with a valuable away win last Saturday, with Lee Gledhill replacing Lee Protheroe at right back. Protheroe has now returned to Canvey Island after his impressive loan spell with the Fleet. It is common knowledge that manager Andy Ford is keen to sign Protheroe and, no doubt, he will be watching developments at Park Lane with interest.

Also missing from the Fleet starting line-up was Ben Abbey who was disciplined by Ford and not included on the bench. James Pinnock took his place, in the forward line. Morecambe manager Jim Harvey made two changes from the team that went down to a disappointing defeat to Barnet last weekend with the former Northwich Victoria player Chris Blackburn replacing David McKearney who was relegated to the substitutes bench, whilst Shaun Garnett returned to the side in place of Michael Stringfellow.

On a bleak and bitterly cold afternoon, the match started in dramatic fashion when Andrew Drury was injured, on the halfway line, following a high challenge by Garnett. Drury was clearly winded by the over zealous tackle from the burly defender and lay on the ground for several minutes receiving treatment. As he walked to the touchline he revealed the stud marks on his upper chest which was later diagnosed as a dislocated cartilage in his chest, an injury which may force him to miss the next two or three weeks of the season. Referee Mr Melin took a lenient view of the incident and Garnett was fortunate to escape without even a booking. To his credit, Drury returned to the field and was to prove a decisive influence on the match with his powerful running and close control tormenting the visitors’ defence throughout.

After only four minutes, Fleet defender Chris Moore appeared to be pushed, following a right wing cross from Lee Gledhill but Mr Melin waved away penalty appeals. Then, a minute later, Dean Howell flashed a left shot across the face of the home goal. It was a frenetic start to the match and the Fleet went close to taking the lead on six minutes when, following an incisive run from Drury, there was a scramble in the visitors’ goalmouth, before Pinnock’s shot was deflected inches wide of the post.

It was a real end-to-end contest and Shrimps’ full back Keiren Walmsley set off on determined run down the right flank, culminating in a long range shot which was well watched by Paul Wilkerson in the home goal.

Drury and Gledhill then linked up well down the right creating an opportunity for Owen who fired just over the bar from 25 yards out. Then, in a similar move, Gledhill found Perkins, completely unmarked in the six-yard box, with a cross from the right. His header was straight at the Shrimps’ keeper Craig Mawson but, somehow, he allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and turned to watch as the ball, agonisingly, trickled over the line.

Shrimps’ skipper Stewart Drummond was then shown the yellow card for preventing Fleet skipper Steve McKimm from taking a quick free kick, after a foul on Pinnock. Roy Essandoh, playing his last match before returning to Bishops Stortford, then caused panic in the visitors’ defence, twice within a minute. Firstly, his right wing cross just eluded Pinnock at the near post. Then, Mawson redeemed himself for his earlier error, diving to his right to save the striker’s angled drive shot.

Garry Thompson then became the second Shrimps player to be shown the yellow card, in the space of two minutes, for a foul on Steve Perkins on the halfway line. In the 22nd minute, Perkins’ namesake David, created an opportunity for the former Margate player Terry McFlynn who curled a right foot shot inches wide of the far post with Wilkerson scrambling across goal to cover.

After an incident-packed opening quarter, the game then went through a short scrappy spell with the play punctuated by a number of offside decisions. The Fleet continued their first half dominance, however, and Essandoh should have done better from an Owen right wing cross but was unable to direct his header on target and the opportunity passed.

Danny Carlton then became the third Shrimps player to incur the wrath of Mr. Melin when he received the yellow card for lashing out at McKimm on the ground, after being penalised for fouling the Fleet skipper. In the 36th minute, a determined run down the left flank by Pinnock created a chance for McKimm but he fired high over the bar from just outside the box.

After being outplayed for long periods, the Shrimps gradually clawed their way back into the game. Moore sliced a clearance over his own crossbar and from the resulting corner Jim Bentley had a free header but his effort went over the bar. Howell then fastened on to a long through ball, beating the offside trap, but the legs of Wilkerson denied him.

Interestingly, as the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time, one of the Shrimps players went down injured. Presumably, the referee allowed for additional time for this as the Fleet extended their lead in the fifth minute of time added time. The excellent Drury beat the offside trap down the left flank and crossed into the six yard box where Owen had the time and space to pick his spot stooping low to place his header past the despairing dive of Mawson.

The Morecambe directors, in front of me, voiced their disgust at the referee as the players and officials left the field. Curiously, they did not reappear for the second half. At the start of the second half, Shrimps manager Jim Harvey introduced substitute Iain Swann in place of Jim Bentley. In the first minute of the half, McFlynn fired over the bar, from the edge of the area, after the Fleet defence had only half cleared a long Walmsley free kick but it was not long before the Fleet were again in the ascendancy.

A long, diagonal free-kick from left back Justin Skinner found Drury in space on the right and his right foot volley flashed across goal but wide of the far post. Then, a pass from Drury found Essandoh in space on the left. He beat his marker, cut inside and fired a right foot shot just over the bar from 16 yards out.

The game was then over as a contest, when the Fleet scored four times in a devastating six minute spell. Firstly, Essandoh burst down the left and crossed low to the near post. Mawson failed to hold his effort and Pinnock gleefully tapped home the loose ball into an empty net. Then, three minutes later, Pinnock found the overlapping Drury whose instinctive first time pass inside found Owen. He rounded Mawson but was felled by the visitors’ keeper, who was booked for his challenge. Referee Mr Melin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mawson was injured in the process but, after treatment, he stepped up to face Drury who coolly sent the keeper the wrong way.

A minute later, the impressive Gledhill sent in a looping right wing cross and Steve Perkins collected his second goal of the game, directing his header wide of Mawson and just inside the post. The scoring was completed, two minutes later, when Pinnock took advantage of a misplaced defensive pass to beat Mawson with an acute angled drive at his near post.

The Fleet then introduced new signing Tony Battersby from Stevenage in place of Essandoh whilst the Shrimps sent on the former Chester player Ryan Sugden in place of Howell. Mawson was having a torrid afternoon between the sticks and was very relieved to grab a shot from Pinnock, through a crowd of players, at the second attempt.

With the Fleet relaxing a little, the Shrimps forced four successive croners which the home defence dealt with comfortably but in the 69th minute, the visitors should have reduced the arrears after McFlynn combined well with Sugden but the substitute hesitated and the ball rolled harmlessly into the grateful arms of Wilkerson.

When Pinnock was fouled five yards outside the box, Drury stepped up and curled a delightful right foot shot around the wall but just over the bar. With 20 minutes remaining, a mistake by Lee Shearer allowed Sugden in, once again, but Wilkerson smothered his shot with his legs. The Fleet then introduced the much-travelled Oxford United striker Manny Omoyinmi in place of Pinnock. He was immediately involved in the action, outpacing his marker and firing a dangerous looking ball across the face of the goal.

Man of the match, Drury, received a standing ovation, nine minutes from time, as he left the field to be replaced by Moussa Sidibe, brother of the Gillingham striker. Nothing was going right for the Shrimps and they must have known it was definitely not their day when, substitute Sugden then, amazingly, missed the target from just a yard out, shooting over the bar from a Carlton right wing cross. With time running out, Battersby’s pass found the overlapping Skinner. His cross fell invitingly for Omoyinmi who was completely unmarked just six yards out but his header was directed straight at Mawson.

So, the Stonebridge Road faithful were able to celebrate their team’s excellent performance, which, justifiably, received a standing ovation as they left the field. Manager Andy Ford was quick to praise his team. Talk after the match was about the possibility of the Fleet moving up to full time status, as the next logical step in the Club’s development. Ford, rather cautiously, added that the projected cost of such a move would be in the region of £250,000. He was anxious to point out that the club did not wish to over stretch themselves.

For Morecambe, this result is a major blow to their Play-Off hopes. They are very much a Jekyll and Hyde side with one of the best home records in the Conference, but, conversely, only Farnborough and Northwich Victoria have a worse away record this season. With just nine games remaining, it is this statistic, which looks increasingly likely to cost them a place in the end of season shake up.

Full Time 6-0
Half Time 2-0
Attendance 1,061
Goals Perkins 2, Owen, Pinnock 2, Drury
M.O.M Andrew Drury

What was all that about ,i thought this team was about the future Ockers World

[Keith]

Gravesend 6 Morecambe 0

scintillating spell of four goals in six minutes, early in the second half, completed the rout of promotion chasing Morecambe, and in the process severely dented their Play-Off hopes, as Gravesend & Northfleet recorded their best ever Conference win in this exciting encounter at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Gravesend made two changes from the team that returned from Forest Green Rovers with a valuable away win last Saturday, with Lee Gledhill replacing Lee Protheroe at right back. Protheroe has now returned to Canvey Island after his impressive loan spell with the Fleet. It is common knowledge that manager Andy Ford is keen to sign Protheroe and, no doubt, he will be watching developments at Park Lane with interest.

Also missing from the Fleet starting line-up was Ben Abbey who was disciplined by Ford and not included on the bench. James Pinnock took his place, in the forward line. Morecambe manager Jim Harvey made two changes from the team that went down to a disappointing defeat to Barnet last weekend with the former Northwich Victoria player Chris Blackburn replacing David McKearney who was relegated to the substitutes bench, whilst Shaun Garnett returned to the side in place of Michael Stringfellow.

On a bleak and bitterly cold afternoon, the match started in dramatic fashion when Andrew Drury was injured, on the halfway line, following a high challenge by Garnett. Drury was clearly winded by the over zealous tackle from the burly defender and lay on the ground for several minutes receiving treatment. As he walked to the touchline he revealed the stud marks on his upper chest which was later diagnosed as a dislocated cartilage in his chest, an injury which may force him to miss the next two or three weeks of the season. Referee Mr Melin took a lenient view of the incident and Garnett was fortunate to escape without even a booking. To his credit, Drury returned to the field and was to prove a decisive influence on the match with his powerful running and close control tormenting the visitors’ defence throughout.

After only four minutes, Fleet defender Chris Moore appeared to be pushed, following a right wing cross from Lee Gledhill but Mr Melin waved away penalty appeals. Then, a minute later, Dean Howell flashed a left shot across the face of the home goal. It was a frenetic start to the match and the Fleet went close to taking the lead on six minutes when, following an incisive run from Drury, there was a scramble in the visitors’ goalmouth, before Pinnock’s shot was deflected inches wide of the post.

It was a real end-to-end contest and Shrimps’ full back Keiren Walmsley set off on determined run down the right flank, culminating in a long range shot which was well watched by Paul Wilkerson in the home goal.

Drury and Gledhill then linked up well down the right creating an opportunity for Owen who fired just over the bar from 25 yards out. Then, in a similar move, Gledhill found Perkins, completely unmarked in the six-yard box, with a cross from the right. His header was straight at the Shrimps’ keeper Craig Mawson but, somehow, he allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and turned to watch as the ball, agonisingly, trickled over the line.

Shrimps’ skipper Stewart Drummond was then shown the yellow card for preventing Fleet skipper Steve McKimm from taking a quick free kick, after a foul on Pinnock. Roy Essandoh, playing his last match before returning to Bishops Stortford, then caused panic in the visitors’ defence, twice within a minute. Firstly, his right wing cross just eluded Pinnock at the near post. Then, Mawson redeemed himself for his earlier error, diving to his right to save the striker’s angled drive shot.

Garry Thompson then became the second Shrimps player to be shown the yellow card, in the space of two minutes, for a foul on Steve Perkins on the halfway line. In the 22nd minute, Perkins’ namesake David, created an opportunity for the former Margate player Terry McFlynn who curled a right foot shot inches wide of the far post with Wilkerson scrambling across goal to cover.

After an incident-packed opening quarter, the game then went through a short scrappy spell with the play punctuated by a number of offside decisions. The Fleet continued their first half dominance, however, and Essandoh should have done better from an Owen right wing cross but was unable to direct his header on target and the opportunity passed.

Danny Carlton then became the third Shrimps player to incur the wrath of Mr. Melin when he received the yellow card for lashing out at McKimm on the ground, after being penalised for fouling the Fleet skipper. In the 36th minute, a determined run down the left flank by Pinnock created a chance for McKimm but he fired high over the bar from just outside the box.

After being outplayed for long periods, the Shrimps gradually clawed their way back into the game. Moore sliced a clearance over his own crossbar and from the resulting corner Jim Bentley had a free header but his effort went over the bar. Howell then fastened on to a long through ball, beating the offside trap, but the legs of Wilkerson denied him.

Interestingly, as the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time, one of the Shrimps players went down injured. Presumably, the referee allowed for additional time for this as the Fleet extended their lead in the fifth minute of time added time. The excellent Drury beat the offside trap down the left flank and crossed into the six yard box where Owen had the time and space to pick his spot stooping low to place his header past the despairing dive of Mawson.

The Morecambe directors, in front of me, voiced their disgust at the referee as the players and officials left the field. Curiously, they did not reappear for the second half. At the start of the second half, Shrimps manager Jim Harvey introduced substitute Iain Swann in place of Jim Bentley. In the first minute of the half, McFlynn fired over the bar, from the edge of the area, after the Fleet defence had only half cleared a long Walmsley free kick but it was not long before the Fleet were again in the ascendancy.

A long, diagonal free-kick from left back Justin Skinner found Drury in space on the right and his right foot volley flashed across goal but wide of the far post. Then, a pass from Drury found Essandoh in space on the left. He beat his marker, cut inside and fired a right foot shot just over the bar from 16 yards out.

The game was then over as a contest, when the Fleet scored four times in a devastating six minute spell. Firstly, Essandoh burst down the left and crossed low to the near post. Mawson failed to hold his effort and Pinnock gleefully tapped home the loose ball into an empty net. Then, three minutes later, Pinnock found the overlapping Drury whose instinctive first time pass inside found Owen. He rounded Mawson but was felled by the visitors’ keeper, who was booked for his challenge. Referee Mr Melin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mawson was injured in the process but, after treatment, he stepped up to face Drury who coolly sent the keeper the wrong way.

A minute later, the impressive Gledhill sent in a looping right wing cross and Steve Perkins collected his second goal of the game, directing his header wide of Mawson and just inside the post. The scoring was completed, two minutes later, when Pinnock took advantage of a misplaced defensive pass to beat Mawson with an acute angled drive at his near post.

The Fleet then introduced new signing Tony Battersby from Stevenage in place of Essandoh whilst the Shrimps sent on the former Chester player Ryan Sugden in place of Howell. Mawson was having a torrid afternoon between the sticks and was very relieved to grab a shot from Pinnock, through a crowd of players, at the second attempt.

With the Fleet relaxing a little, the Shrimps forced four successive croners which the home defence dealt with comfortably but in the 69th minute, the visitors should have reduced the arrears after McFlynn combined well with Sugden but the substitute hesitated and the ball rolled harmlessly into the grateful arms of Wilkerson.

When Pinnock was fouled five yards outside the box, Drury stepped up and curled a delightful right foot shot around the wall but just over the bar. With 20 minutes remaining, a mistake by Lee Shearer allowed Sugden in, once again, but Wilkerson smothered his shot with his legs. The Fleet then introduced the much-travelled Oxford United striker Manny Omoyinmi in place of Pinnock. He was immediately involved in the action, outpacing his marker and firing a dangerous looking ball across the face of the goal.

Man of the match, Drury, received a standing ovation, nine minutes from time, as he left the field to be replaced by Moussa Sidibe, brother of the Gillingham striker. Nothing was going right for the Shrimps and they must have known it was definitely not their day when, substitute Sugden then, amazingly, missed the target from just a yard out, shooting over the bar from a Carlton right wing cross. With time running out, Battersby’s pass found the overlapping Skinner. His cross fell invitingly for Omoyinmi who was completely unmarked just six yards out but his header was directed straight at Mawson.

So, the Stonebridge Road faithful were able to celebrate their team’s excellent performance, which, justifiably, received a standing ovation as they left the field. Manager Andy Ford was quick to praise his team. Talk after the match was about the possibility of the Fleet moving up to full time status, as the next logical step in the Club’s development. Ford, rather cautiously, added that the projected cost of such a move would be in the region of £250,000. He was anxious to point out that the club did not wish to over stretch themselves.

For Morecambe, this result is a major blow to their Play-Off hopes. They are very much a Jekyll and Hyde side with one of the best home records in the Conference, but, conversely, only Farnborough and Northwich Victoria have a worse away record this season. With just nine games remaining, it is this statistic, which looks increasingly likely to cost them a place in the end of season shake up.

Full Time 6-0
Half Time 2-0
Attendance 1,061
Goals Perkins 2, Owen, Pinnock 2, Drury
M.O.M Andrew Drury

What was all that about ,i thought this team was about the future Ockers World

Was there really any need to quote the whole message for a one line response???

[ockers]

just for you stanley and aspers of course!!!!!

[morecambe mick]

Gravesend 6 Morecambe 0

scintillating spell of four goals in six minutes, early in the second half, completed the rout of promotion chasing Morecambe, and in the process severely dented their Play-Off hopes, as Gravesend & Northfleet recorded their best ever Conference win in this exciting encounter at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Gravesend made two changes from the team that returned from Forest Green Rovers with a valuable away win last Saturday, with Lee Gledhill replacing Lee Protheroe at right back. Protheroe has now returned to Canvey Island after his impressive loan spell with the Fleet. It is common knowledge that manager Andy Ford is keen to sign Protheroe and, no doubt, he will be watching developments at Park Lane with interest.

Also missing from the Fleet starting line-up was Ben Abbey who was disciplined by Ford and not included on the bench. James Pinnock took his place, in the forward line. Morecambe manager Jim Harvey made two changes from the team that went down to a disappointing defeat to Barnet last weekend with the former Northwich Victoria player Chris Blackburn replacing David McKearney who was relegated to the substitutes bench, whilst Shaun Garnett returned to the side in place of Michael Stringfellow.

On a bleak and bitterly cold afternoon, the match started in dramatic fashion when Andrew Drury was injured, on the halfway line, following a high challenge by Garnett. Drury was clearly winded by the over zealous tackle from the burly defender and lay on the ground for several minutes receiving treatment. As he walked to the touchline he revealed the stud marks on his upper chest which was later diagnosed as a dislocated cartilage in his chest, an injury which may force him to miss the next two or three weeks of the season. Referee Mr Melin took a lenient view of the incident and Garnett was fortunate to escape without even a booking. To his credit, Drury returned to the field and was to prove a decisive influence on the match with his powerful running and close control tormenting the visitors’ defence throughout.

After only four minutes, Fleet defender Chris Moore appeared to be pushed, following a right wing cross from Lee Gledhill but Mr Melin waved away penalty appeals. Then, a minute later, Dean Howell flashed a left shot across the face of the home goal. It was a frenetic start to the match and the Fleet went close to taking the lead on six minutes when, following an incisive run from Drury, there was a scramble in the visitors’ goalmouth, before Pinnock’s shot was deflected inches wide of the post.

It was a real end-to-end contest and Shrimps’ full back Keiren Walmsley set off on determined run down the right flank, culminating in a long range shot which was well watched by Paul Wilkerson in the home goal.

Drury and Gledhill then linked up well down the right creating an opportunity for Owen who fired just over the bar from 25 yards out. Then, in a similar move, Gledhill found Perkins, completely unmarked in the six-yard box, with a cross from the right. His header was straight at the Shrimps’ keeper Craig Mawson but, somehow, he allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and turned to watch as the ball, agonisingly, trickled over the line.

Shrimps’ skipper Stewart Drummond was then shown the yellow card for preventing Fleet skipper Steve McKimm from taking a quick free kick, after a foul on Pinnock. Roy Essandoh, playing his last match before returning to Bishops Stortford, then caused panic in the visitors’ defence, twice within a minute. Firstly, his right wing cross just eluded Pinnock at the near post. Then, Mawson redeemed himself for his earlier error, diving to his right to save the striker’s angled drive shot.

Garry Thompson then became the second Shrimps player to be shown the yellow card, in the space of two minutes, for a foul on Steve Perkins on the halfway line. In the 22nd minute, Perkins’ namesake David, created an opportunity for the former Margate player Terry McFlynn who curled a right foot shot inches wide of the far post with Wilkerson scrambling across goal to cover.

After an incident-packed opening quarter, the game then went through a short scrappy spell with the play punctuated by a number of offside decisions. The Fleet continued their first half dominance, however, and Essandoh should have done better from an Owen right wing cross but was unable to direct his header on target and the opportunity passed.

Danny Carlton then became the third Shrimps player to incur the wrath of Mr. Melin when he received the yellow card for lashing out at McKimm on the ground, after being penalised for fouling the Fleet skipper. In the 36th minute, a determined run down the left flank by Pinnock created a chance for McKimm but he fired high over the bar from just outside the box.

After being outplayed for long periods, the Shrimps gradually clawed their way back into the game. Moore sliced a clearance over his own crossbar and from the resulting corner Jim Bentley had a free header but his effort went over the bar. Howell then fastened on to a long through ball, beating the offside trap, but the legs of Wilkerson denied him.

Interestingly, as the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time, one of the Shrimps players went down injured. Presumably, the referee allowed for additional time for this as the Fleet extended their lead in the fifth minute of time added time. The excellent Drury beat the offside trap down the left flank and crossed into the six yard box where Owen had the time and space to pick his spot stooping low to place his header past the despairing dive of Mawson.

The Morecambe directors, in front of me, voiced their disgust at the referee as the players and officials left the field. Curiously, they did not reappear for the second half. At the start of the second half, Shrimps manager Jim Harvey introduced substitute Iain Swann in place of Jim Bentley. In the first minute of the half, McFlynn fired over the bar, from the edge of the area, after the Fleet defence had only half cleared a long Walmsley free kick but it was not long before the Fleet were again in the ascendancy.

A long, diagonal free-kick from left back Justin Skinner found Drury in space on the right and his right foot volley flashed across goal but wide of the far post. Then, a pass from Drury found Essandoh in space on the left. He beat his marker, cut inside and fired a right foot shot just over the bar from 16 yards out.

The game was then over as a contest, when the Fleet scored four times in a devastating six minute spell. Firstly, Essandoh burst down the left and crossed low to the near post. Mawson failed to hold his effort and Pinnock gleefully tapped home the loose ball into an empty net. Then, three minutes later, Pinnock found the overlapping Drury whose instinctive first time pass inside found Owen. He rounded Mawson but was felled by the visitors’ keeper, who was booked for his challenge. Referee Mr Melin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mawson was injured in the process but, after treatment, he stepped up to face Drury who coolly sent the keeper the wrong way.

A minute later, the impressive Gledhill sent in a looping right wing cross and Steve Perkins collected his second goal of the game, directing his header wide of Mawson and just inside the post. The scoring was completed, two minutes later, when Pinnock took advantage of a misplaced defensive pass to beat Mawson with an acute angled drive at his near post.

The Fleet then introduced new signing Tony Battersby from Stevenage in place of Essandoh whilst the Shrimps sent on the former Chester player Ryan Sugden in place of Howell. Mawson was having a torrid afternoon between the sticks and was very relieved to grab a shot from Pinnock, through a crowd of players, at the second attempt.

With the Fleet relaxing a little, the Shrimps forced four successive croners which the home defence dealt with comfortably but in the 69th minute, the visitors should have reduced the arrears after McFlynn combined well with Sugden but the substitute hesitated and the ball rolled harmlessly into the grateful arms of Wilkerson.

When Pinnock was fouled five yards outside the box, Drury stepped up and curled a delightful right foot shot around the wall but just over the bar. With 20 minutes remaining, a mistake by Lee Shearer allowed Sugden in, once again, but Wilkerson smothered his shot with his legs. The Fleet then introduced the much-travelled Oxford United striker Manny Omoyinmi in place of Pinnock. He was immediately involved in the action, outpacing his marker and firing a dangerous looking ball across the face of the goal.

Man of the match, Drury, received a standing ovation, nine minutes from time, as he left the field to be replaced by Moussa Sidibe, brother of the Gillingham striker. Nothing was going right for the Shrimps and they must have known it was definitely not their day when, substitute Sugden then, amazingly, missed the target from just a yard out, shooting over the bar from a Carlton right wing cross. With time running out, Battersby’s pass found the overlapping Skinner. His cross fell invitingly for Omoyinmi who was completely unmarked just six yards out but his header was directed straight at Mawson.

So, the Stonebridge Road faithful were able to celebrate their team’s excellent performance, which, justifiably, received a standing ovation as they left the field. Manager Andy Ford was quick to praise his team. Talk after the match was about the possibility of the Fleet moving up to full time status, as the next logical step in the Club’s development. Ford, rather cautiously, added that the projected cost of such a move would be in the region of £250,000. He was anxious to point out that the club did not wish to over stretch themselves.

For Morecambe, this result is a major blow to their Play-Off hopes. They are very much a Jekyll and Hyde side with one of the best home records in the Conference, but, conversely, only Farnborough and Northwich Victoria have a worse away record this season. With just nine games remaining, it is this statistic, which looks increasingly likely to cost them a place in the end of season shake up.

Full Time 6-0
Half Time 2-0
Attendance 1,061
Goals Perkins 2, Owen, Pinnock 2, Drury
M.O.M Andrew Drury

What was all that about ,i thought this team was about the future Ockers World

Was there really any need to quote the whole message for a one line response???

Why not you'v........

Oh, I see what you've done there

[Aspers]

That was my hour and a halfus horriblus

[Freez]

I still get grief now for accompanying a distraught and care worn traveller from the scene of the slaughter early to enable alcohol to ease the poor mans pain!!

[Posh]

I remember it well. I was one of the few to stay to the final whistle and keep singing. We actually didn't play as badly as the scoreline suggests. Beautiful weather if I remember rightly.

As for 'jonah' Aspers the 3-1 home defeat to Barnet where they destroyed us was probably worse. He talked about staying on for another week and I was ready to pay his fare home. The only good result we got that week was knowing Qantas flew him home on time.

[Aspers]

I was supposed to be at the Moulin Rouge in Paris on that Saturday we lost to Gravesend.
Got to Waterloo and couldn't make the trip.
Cashed my ticket in and took a train to Gravesend instead.
She who must was most impressed

Funny enough this morning about 1.30am I was listening to Ockers and Quinny, The Memsahib came upstairs to the East Wing (where my Computer is) and said do you remember that time in London Moulin Rouge etc etc.

"Well I'll never forgive you for that"

"Neither will a few thousand others" I said

That Gravesend fan who was my best mate still hasn't shown up!

[Andy]

Is it true, Aspers is flying in for a month ? !!!

[Aspers]

I've just offered my services to all the other clubs fighting for promotion.
Fly me in Business class, + $25,000.00, I'll go to all Morecambes next games.

[Keith]

I've just offered my services to all the other clubs fighting for promotion.
Fly me in Business class, + $25,000.00, I'll go to all Morecambes next games.

only because you're a nuct!