Fleet were in impressive form as they beat a spirited Stortford side in a game played on an excellent playing surface.

Kris Lee and Martyn Lawrence ensured that the home defenders had to be at their best from the first whistle.

During the opening moments a great run and cross from Lee picked out Lawrence in the area who’s instant shot was turned away for a corner.

The contest was hard fought and played at a great tempo with both sides displaying some tidy play. Fleet pressed hard, and were unlucky not to take an early lead when keeper Desborough denied Lawrence, who fired in a great shot on goal.

Bishops Stortford enjoyed a spell of pressure and forced three successive corners, which were well defended by the Fleet rearguard.  The deadlock was broken after just 19 minutes when Jeran Meah scored a stunning goal to put Fleet ahead.

A long clearance into the Stortford half was well controlled by the Fleet man who took on his marker down the right hand side to smash the ball into the far corner of the net from the edge of the area.

Moments later Meah almost extended the lead but this time his headed effort was just off the mark. A second goal looked imminent.  A quick break out by Stortford down the right hand side ended with the referee awarding the home side a penalty after Collis was adjudged to have bought down an opponent inside the area. Stortford's Glen Southam stepped up to take the spot kick which he smashed low to the right hand side of the goal but a superb save from Paul Gothard denied the home side an equaliser.

Fleet were never really troubled for the remainder of the half.

As the second began it was Fleet who made the better start and despite some good passing the final ball for Stortford never really had enough quality to cause any real concerns in the Fleet area. In the 54^th minute Dave Collis picked out Kris Lee who in turn delivered a great ball into the area which was cleared for a corner. Collis took the resultant corner kick and up popped Jimmy McFarlane to head powerfully into the net from the six-yard line.

Stortford tried to rally themselves but simply could not get the better of the Fleet midfield who worked very hard throughout this game. With the defenders being worked so hard by the Fleet attack it was no surprise when Cliff Akurang accelerated past the last man to set himself up before being fouled and winning a penalty. The inform Fleet hitman took the kick himself to score his 10^th of the campaign with a cooly taken  66^th minute, penalty.

The home side did get a consolation goal and what a strike it was. A ball was cleared up toward the halfway line after a Stortford corner with every player in the Fleet half. The ball was met with a stunning shot from fully 35 yards out by Grant Cooper which, saw the ball fly into the net giving Gothard no chance. It was always going to take something special to beat the Fleet keeper on the night and this strike was special indeed.

As the final moments ticked by Fleet could have gone further ahead when substitute Terry Bowes latched onto a through ball to lob the advancing keeper only to see the ball drop agonisingly onto the top of the net.

As the game entered its final minute Gothard made a spectacular save to once again deny the home side a goal. The scoreline was a true reflection of the game with a great performance by the Thurrock side to cruise into 5^th spot.

TEAM.

Gothard, Basham, Goodfellow, Collis, McFarlane, Allen, Meah (Broom), Heffer, Lee (Howard), Lawrence, Akurang (Bowes).

Referee. M. Ives.