Grim end for gritty Gravesend

GRAVESEND and Northfleet tried to turn logic on its head and logically should have left Villa Park with an FA Cup third round result that more accurately reflected the grit that pained a drab Aston Villa.

It was typical and inevitable that Gravesend should have been portrayed all week as being famous, albeit only recently, for nothing more than having the last resting place of Pocahontas - a conclusion that ignored the fact that the town's football club had cultivated such illustrious players as Charlie Buchan and Arthur Rowe. But Gravesend had only once before made headlines, in 1962 when they held Sunderland to an FA Cup 4th round draw and lost the replay.

This time they had more or less rejected the romantic idea of an upset by forgoing home advantage for the more prosaic, but important, matter of reaping over pounds 100,000 by playing away. Nevertheless, 4,500 newly acquired fans (home gates rarely exceed 400) backed them rather more spiritedly than the bookmakers who had originally made them 20,000-1 outsiders.

Spirit and reality parted company after two minutes when, in Villa's first attack of any consequence, Mark Draper hit what seemed to be an optimistic shot low between defenders and Lee Turner saw it too late as the ball flew in. Gravesend had come with the intention of defending deep and breaking quickly. The omens told a different story.

Not that Villa capitalised quickly on that early strike. In fact, though always quicker and enjoying considerable territorial advantage, their passing became ever more sloppy and their outlook almost complacent. Although Savo Milosevic did beat Turner again after 25 minutes only to see the linesman flag for offside, Gravesend's Peter Mortley and Matt Gubbins coped reasonably well at the back, despite Tommy Johnson' sharpness posing a constant threat.

That the game became deadlocked reflected great credit on Gravesend, who gradually increased the amount of possession afforded to Dave Powell, who had scored nine FA Cup goals this season. Their fans mockingly chanted: "Boring, boring Villa". It was difficult to disagree.

Turner ensured that Villa's difficulties continued by efficiently blocking a shot from Dwight Yorke, who was Villa's only consistent attacking power.

Villa increased their lead immediately after the restart. In a rare well-executed attack Andy Townsend and Milosevic exchanged passes and the latter comfortably shot in. The margin was far from deserved, more so when, after 51 minutes, Colin Blewden beat three tackles to see his close-range shot blocked by Gary Charles on the line.

That was the last opportunity Gravesend enjoyed for a long time, but Villa's untidyness never went away. Shots flew past Turner, but most were haphazard. Gravesend's strength and concentration was ebbing.

Johnson's pace had generally been more impressive than his accuracy, but finally, in the 73rd minute, he nipped into the penalty area and slotted a neat shot inside the far post. There was never any doubting Gravesend's courage and, as they ran out of stamina, they sent on all three substitutes, won their first corner of the game after 81 minutes and twice brought Bosnich to his knees.

The Gravesend fans were never subdued but went home justified in wondering quite why their Beazer Homes League side had spent so many matches this season struggling against teams far removed in potential ability than this Villa. Poignantly, Villa's supporters gave Gravesend a greater ovation at the end than they did their own side.