Ebbsfleet United

MacDonald committed to Gravesend
Gravesend and Northfleet's sought after top scorer Charlie MacDonald says only the lure of a League club would prise him away from Stonebridge Road. The 24-year-old striker has scored 14 goals this season and signed a new contract with Fleet last week. MacDonald told Sir Stanley: "There were a few clubs showing an interest but I wasn't going to leave unless they were League clubs and they weren't. "At the moment I'm fully committed to Gravesend football club." MacDonald added: "I'm sure if there was a league club and they offered decent money, Gravesend wouldn't stand in my way."

Fleet capture Cottagers defender
Gravesend & Northfleet boss Liam Daish has signed Fulham defender Robert Watkins on loan. The 20-year-old, who had a five-game loan spell at Crawley last season, could make his debut in Tuesday's local derby against Grays Athletic. Meanwhile, Fleet defender Ross Smith has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2006/07 season. "It is all I can do to get him off the training pitch - he'd train all day if he could," Daish told the club website. "I am very pleased that he has decided to commit another season to us."

Fleet target permanent Sodje deal
Gravesend & Northfleet boss Liam Daish would like to sign on-loan Charlton striker Onome Sodje permanently. Sodje, 18, has just started a second loan spell with Fleet, having scored three times in nine Conference games. "He took his goal well at Kidderminster and there is more to come from him once he can get match fit," Daish told the Medway Messenger. "It's good to have him back in the squad. I put a call in and found out he was available." He added: "It's a move that could well become permanent down the line."

Rawle keen to stay on with Fleet
Gravesend and Northfleet's on-loan striker Mark Rawle wants to earn a permanent contract at the club. The 26-year-old signed joined Fleet from Woking in January for the rest of the season loan. Rawle told Sir Stanley: "I'm trying to do the best I can. If I don't do well I might not be wanted here. "I'm trying to put myself in the good books of the manager and if he wants to offer me something at the end of the season that's good for me."

McEwan is relieved after York win
York manager Billy McEwan was glad to see his side hold on for a narrow 1-0 home win over Gravesend & Northfleet. "When we came in at half-time, we were disappointed we were only 1-0 up," the Minstermen boss said. "We'd had nine or 10 corners, we'd had a few cleared off the line and their keeper made some good saves. "A second goal would have relaxed the nerves. The pitch was awful and we know we can play better, but we're happy to have a clean sheet again."

York 1-0 Gravesend
Defender James Dudgeon scored the winner against Gravesend as York maintained their play-off push with a sixth successive victory. Central defender Dudgeon returned with a vengeance after sitting out the Minstermen's midweek win at Dagenham. Dudgeon rose highest to head home his sixth goal of the season from Darren Dunning's corner. Gravesend had the better of the second half with Mark Rawle forcing keeper Chris Porter into a point-blank save. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- York: Porter, Thomas, McGurk, Dudgeon, Peat, Convery (Merris 80), Panther, Neil Bishop, Dunning (O'Neill 66), Donaldson, Andy Bishop. Subs Not Used: Hotte, Webster, Reid. Booked: Dunning, Thomas, Neil Bishop. Goals: Dudgeon 9. Gravesend: Holloway, Gooding, Smith, McCarthy, Watkins, Slatter (Luke Moore 86), Drury, McKimm (Saunders 56), Johnson, Jackson, Rawle (Sodje 73). Subs Not Used: Kerr, Fuller. Booked: McKimm, Johnson, McCarthy, Saunders. Att: 2,902 Ref: M Oliver (Ashington)

Gravesend v Tamworth
Gravesend hope to welcome back leading scorer Charlie McDonald after recovering from a knee injury. Bobby Bowry is available after shaking off a foot injury but Ross Smith is a doubt with an ankle problem. Matt Williams returns for Tamworth after recovering from an ankle injury but veteran striker Bob Taylor is still sidelined with a foot injury. Tommy Johnson (hamstring) is doubtful while Dave Bampton and Adie Smith will both see out their two-match bans.

Gravesend 2-0 Tamworth
Gravesend increased the relegation concerns of Tamworth as they sauntered to a deserved victory over their struggling visitors. James Smith put the home side ahead when he lobbed over keeper Sean Bowles for his first goal for the club. Smith turned provider for Gravesend's second when he crossed for Jimmy Jackson to head home. Tamworth's best chances came from a Craig Reid shot and Daniel Davidson but they rarely threatened. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gravesend: Holloway, Gooding, McCarthy, Graham-Smith, Watkins, Slatter, Drury (Johnson 18), Saunders, Jackson (Fuller 89), Rawle (Luke Moore 82), Smith. Subs Not Used: Kerr, McKimm. Goals: Smith 43, Jackson 60. Tamworth: Bowles, Roma, Neilson, Folkes, Stamps (Dryden 67), Starosta, Ward (Jackson 45), Storer, Heggs, Reid (Taylor 79), Davidson. Subs Not Used: Cooper, Breedon. Booked: Davidson. Att: 841 Ref: L Hodgson (Nuneaton).

Daish relieved with Fleet victory
Boss Liam Daish was happy to end a run of six Conference games without a win as his Gravesend & Northfleet side beat struggling Tamworth 2-0. "Jamie Smith did very well up front - he scored a goal, made one and caused them problems," Daish explained. "And Ross Smith came in at the back and didn't put a foot wrong. "We played 4-5-1 at York last week and looked dangerous, but then we played 4-4-2 today and also looked dangerous, so it's horses for courses."

Gravesend rocked by Jackson blow
Gravesend & Northfleet midfielder Jimmy Jackson suffered a suspected broken leg in their 1-0 win in Tuesday's Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate. Luke Moore scored the winning goal but the victory came at a price as Jackson was stretchered off during the match. Boss Liam Daish told Sir Stanley: "Jimmy's gone off to the hospital and we're waiting to see. "His injury has taken the shine off getting to a final because we know what Jimmy means to this club."

Fleet sign ex-Diamonds defender
Gravesend & Northfleet have signed former Rushden & Diamonds defender Peter Hawkins. The 28-year-old had been a free agent after leaving Nene Park by mutual consent earlier this month. "This was an opportunity that we just couldn't pass up," Fleet manager Liam Daish told his club's website. "It has been an absolute nightmare trying to bring players to the club, and this whole transfer window scenario is killing clubs at our level." Meanwhile, Daish has learned that midfielder Jimmy Jackson's leg was badly bruised rather than broken in Tuesday's Kent Senior Cup win against Margate.

Stevenage 2-0 Gravesend
Stevenage boosted their play-off hopes with a home win against Gravesend. Dannie Bulman and George Boyd both went close for Borough before Jon Nurse headed home a Darryn Stamp cross to give them a much-deserved lead. Nurse repaid the favour on the stroke of half-time by slipping in Stamp to make it 2-0 - his 12th of the season. Mark Rawle was denied by Alan Julian in a rare attack for the visitors before Stevenage went close to extending their lead, Eric Obinna shooting just wide. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stevenage: Julian, Henry, Laker, Goodliffe, Oliver, Maamria, Miller (Warner 88), Boyd, Bulman, Nurse (Obinna 54), Stamp. Subs Not Used: Gore, Louis, Weatherstone. Booked: Laker, Stamp, Boyd. Goals: Nurse 36, Stamp 45. Gravesend: Holloway, Gooding, Watkins, Graham-Smith, McCarthy (Hawkins 45), Saunders, Bowry, Slatter (Luke Moore 55), Johnson, Rawle (Fuller 78), Smith. Subs Not Used: Kerr, McKimm. Booked: Graham-Smith, Gooding. Att: 1,873 Ref: N Kinseley (Essex).

Fleet defender makes Margate move
Gravesend defender Lee Protheroe has joined Ryman League side Margate on loan until the end of the season. The 30-year-old, who also plays in midfield, has not been in Fleet's first-team since early January. Protheroe has started 43 Conference games for Gravesend since joining the Kent club from Canvey Island in May 2004 following an earlier loan spell. Meanwhile, Danny Glozier has returned to Gravesend after reaching the end of his loan spell at Tonbridge Angels.

Gravesend 0-3 Aldershot
Ryan Williams grabbed two goals as Aldershot eased past Gravesend & Northfleet to claim a third consecutive away victory. Leroy Griffiths was denied by home keeper Craig Holloway early on and Danny Slatter shot over for Fleet. Williams put the Shots ahead from close range after good work by Steve Watson and Williams made it 2-0 soon after the break with a rasping drive. Kirk Hudson's strike from the edge of the box sealed the points. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gravesend: Holloway, Gooding, Graham-Smith, Smith, Hawkins, Slatter, Bowry, Saunders (Johnson 46), Fuller, Luke Moore, Rawle (Watkins 19). Subs Not Used: Kerr, McKimm, Glozier. Aldershot: Bull, Sulaiman, Winfield, Simpemba, Somner, Crittenden (Ahmad 82), Watson (Crockford 66), Holloway, Williams, Hudson, Griffiths (Matthews 89) .Subs Not Used: Weait, Scott. Booked: Watson, Crockford. Goals: Williams 45, 46, Hudson 56. Att: 1,131. Ref: J Hopkins (Wickford).

Stimson delighted with Grays form
Grays Athletic manager Mark Stimson hailed his players after they tightened their grip on a play-off place with a 3-1 win at Gravesend on Tuesday night. Three goals in five minutes in the second-half secured victory, who are now unbeaten in six Conference games. "I'm delighted, especially after being a goal down from a set-piece and to come back with three quality goals gives me great pleasure," said Stimson. "To take nine points from three back-to-back away games is fantastic." Stimson added: "I'm so proud of the boys."

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