Gravesend & Northfleet will probably count themselves unlucky to have crashed out of the FA Trophy.

Fleet had long periods of possession and created the better chances, while Stalybridge's first goal was their only attempt in the first period.

But the cup exit should be a blessing in disguise it can now leave Fleet to concentrate on their race for the Ryman Premier League title with Canvey Island.

Stalybridge took the lead in the 16th minute. Richard Peacock's free-kick on the edge of the box was block-ed by a Fleet defender and when it rebounded back to him, he hammered the ball past Jamie Turner.

Fleet could not make use of their territorial advantage and the nearest they came to scoring was when Steve McKimm had a shot deflected for a corner in the 22nd minute.

Stalybridge netted their second in the 54th minute when Sammy Ayorinde crossed for Steve Wood to score.

Craig Wilkins then saw his header hit the crossbar and the rebound was dirven wide, before Rob Owen had a header turned away for a corner with five minutes to go.

Fleet Boss Andy Ford said: "We don't like losing matches. It was the best chance we had of getting through to the quarter-finals. We didn't take our chances. But now we can concentrate on the league.

"We have to have a big squad and, like successful teams, have two games a week at this time of year. So I'm looking to beef the squad up."

However, the Fleet kept right on the heels of Ryman Premier League leaders Canvey Island with a 2-1 win over Aldershot at Stonebridge Road during last midweek.

Fleet went into the match two points behind the Canvey but with two games in hand, so it was essential they defeated third-placed Aldershot to maintain the pressure.

And with Canvey defeating lowly Croydon 3-0 the same night, Fleet chiselled out a vital 2-1 win over Aldershot in front of 1,216 fans nearly 400 more than the next highest against Chelsmford in early November thanks to the travelling hordes of loyal Aldershot supporters.

Despite the importance of the game, there was little to cheer the big crowd in a first half-hour littered with sloppy passing.

But the Fleet were then rocked back on their heels seven minutes before the break, when the home defence allowed Owen Coll room at the far post to head home.

But the Fleet were not put off the stride for long and two minutes before the interval they levelled, albeit somewhat bizarely

A corner from the right was swung into the goal area, Aldershot failed to clear and a melee of epidemic proportions was triggered before Aaron Barnett somehow managed to force the ball in from close in.

The second half got off to a tremendous start with Fleet taking the lead almost straight from the restart, when Craig WIlkins seized on a mistake in the Aldershot defence to score.

Jamie Turner, in the home goal, was virtually as spectator as Fleet tried hard to extend their advantage.

Wilkins was not far off target with a header and then Paul Booth twice wasted chances which woud, have made the last 10 minutes easier.

Fleet entertained Hampton & Richmond on Tuesday and on Saturday travel to St Albans.