Gravesend & Northfleet moved three points clear at the top of the Ryman Premier League after a convincing 4-0 victory over Hitchin Town.

Title-chasing rivals Canvey Island, surprisingly, could only draw at home to lowly Hampton & Richmond, and Fleet also have a game in hand.

Fleet manager Andy Ford said: "We played well. It was a potential banana skin, but we went there with the right attitude and won.

"We have a good squad and confidence is high. A few years ago we would have got a draw. But there was no way the lads would let that happen."

Fleet started the game well and Paul Booth and Simon Parker had good chances.

Gravesend then took the lead in the 19th minute when Paul Booth took on the Hitchin defence and put Rob Owen through, who drove home under the keeper's body.

Eight minutes later, Owen put in a cross, which was nearly turned in the back of his own net by a Hitchin defender, but Steve McKimm was on hand to scramble the ball over the line.

In the second half Owen had a shot saved, while at the other other end Jamie Turner was called in action by saving a shot from Craig Rydehead.

But the Fleet were always on top and they made their superiority even more evident when, in the 54th minute, McKimm netted his second and the team's third. Again Booth was in the thick of the action, picking up a pass from his defence before crossing to the near post for McKimm to head home.

In the 69th minute, Fleet had a rare moment of anxiety when a Hitchin effort was cleared off the line from a corner.

Fleet then made it a four-star show in the 74th minute when Simon Parker, put through by Jimmy Jackson's pass, rounded Robinson in the home goal to score from a tight angle.

Turner eve managed to deny Hitchin the consolation of a goal by making two good late saves.

Despite the win, Ford was not getting carried away just yet. He added: "It was a good result, but there's still a long way to go. With 17 or 18 games, there's a lot of twists and turns to come."

Tonight, Fleet meet Dartford in the Kent Senior Cup, before travelling to Hendon on Saturday in the Ryman League.

Fixtures rescheduled

THE Fleet have confirmed the date for their rearranged Ryman Premier League home match with title rivals Canvey Island. It will be played on Tuesday, March 26.

Three other games have also been rescheduled for dates in March. On Tuesday, the fifth, Maidenhead visit Stonebridge Road ahead of the short trip to play Purfleet on the 11th, while the game with Croydon has been booked for March 19.