DESPITE being without both first-choice centre-forwards, Gravesend ran out comfortable winners against a Scarborough side sitting one place above them in the Conference table on Saturday.

Roy Essandoh and Manny Omoyimni were sidelined beacuse of injury, but in the event they were not missed as Fleet scored four times thanks in part to Frenchman Jean Michel Sigere, signed earlier in the week from cash-strapped Hornchurch.

Sigere bagged the opener in the 24th minute when he stooped to head home Justin Skinner's precise cross.

Soon afterwards Fleet stretched their lead as the Scarborough defence again went missing, to enable the impressive Jay Saunders to rifle in his tenth goal of the season.

The second-half was one-way traffic, and it was no surprise when the home side, watched by a crowd of 1,178, went further ahead in the 55th minute through James Pinnock.

Twenty minutes later a fourth was added by substitute Jimmy Jackson, who was the recipient of some of manager Liam Daish's praise at the post-match press conference.

He said: "We've now got some depth in the squad, as I've got players like Jimmy Jackson and Ben Surey, who can come in and do a great job.

"Lee Gledhill also enjoyed himself. He got a crack on his head and spilled some claret, but he loves the mud, the blood and the guts. He's a great defender and is good to have about the place."

This Saturday, Fleet are away to Bishops Stortford in the FA Trophy quarter-finals.