Halifax Town 1 Gravesend & N 0

A SINGLE strike from Ryan Mallon was enough for Halifax to condemn Gravesend & Northfleet to defeat after scoring just seconds into the second half.

Fleet didn’t even manage to get a touch on the ball as Town had gone straight from the re-start and Mallon blasted in from Dean Howell’s cross.

Fleet manager Andy Ford felt it was a close game and that they were unfortunate to be on the losing end.

He said: “I thought we did okay first half and had a few chances and I felt it was quite an even game. They went and scored and we didn’t even touch the ball. The game could have gone either way and a draw would have been about right.”

The defeat continues Gravesend’s recent dip in form, and they are now without a win in their last four league outings.

Andy Ford was forced into re-shuffling his side during the interval as Graham Porter was unable to carry on due to illness, and from the kick-off Halifax took advantage by hitting home the winner.

Ford was forced into another substitution midway through the second half as Justin Skinner came close to receiving his marching orders.

Having already been booked, referee Amy Rayner opted not to show him another card after a foul on Mallon.

Ford said: "He had already been booked and after a late challenge some referee’s would have sent him off, but the lady decided not to. The first booking was not right. I thought she got it wrong. But with the crowd gearing up for one more challenge I took him off rather than risk a suspension.”

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Protheroe, Porter, Moore, Skinner, Sidibe, Saunders, McKimm, Surey, Omoyinmi, Essandoh. Substitutions: Davis for Porter 46mins, Lovell for Skinner 60mins. Not Used: Mitten, Gledhill, Pinnock.

Attendance: 1,410.