Morecambe 0 Gravesend 3

FLEET chalked up their first win of the season and stretched their unbeaten run to 15 at Morecambe on Saturday.

Jay Saunders was Fleet’s man of the match as he bagged twice to give Andy Ford’s side the points at Christie Park.

Morecambe lacked cohesion and Saunders was almost presented with a golden opportunity early on when the ball ricocheted into his path but the home side were able to clear their lines.

Andrew Drury floated a free-kick just wide moments later and then Manny Omoyinmi almost put Fleet in front when Shrimps ‘keeper Adam Sollitt spilled Roy Essandoh’s shot.

Gravesend took the lead just after the half-hour but the goal was somewhat fortuitous.

Justin Skinner played in Drury down the left and his cross took a wicked deflection and fell to Saunders who tapped the ball home .

The goal shocked Morecambe into life and Dave Perkins came closest to redressing the balance but his shot went wide of the post.

Just as the home side looked to be getting back into the game, they conceded a sloppy goal just after the hour mark.

A long ball caused havoc in the Morecambe defence and a lapse between Iain Swain and Sollitt allowed Omoyinmi to sneak in and score.

Saunders scored the third goal 14 minutes from the end when Skinner’s free-kick found Saunders unmarked and his header easily beat the keeper.

Morecambe pushed forward late on but it was too little, too late.

Ford said: “Points dropped against Canvey and Northwich Victoria were simply down to a lack of professionalism. “We have been 1-0 up in every game so far and should have won all three.

“But we let things slip in the first two games and I was glad we didn’t do the same again.”

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Gledhill, Skinner, Porter, Moore, McKimm, Saunders, Surey, Drury (Sidibe 88), Omoyinmi (Pinnock 81), Essandoh. Subs unused: Protheroe, Shearer, Mitten.