A hotly disputed penalty in the dying seconds of the game robbed Fleet of a well-deserved point against visitors Chatham on Saturday.
Striker, Glen Billingness was adjudged to have been tripped by Fleet keeper, Calvin Sparshatt and fellow front-man, Frannie Collin, on loan from Gillingham, made no mistake with the resulting spot-kick, sending Sparshatt the wrong way.
With only 6 minutes to go, Fleet had looked to be coasting to a rare victory, after they had taken a deserved lead in the 63rd minute – striker Eddie Smith running on to a great through ball from 17 year-old, Tom Simpson, playing in his first senior game. Chatham keeper, Gavin Hopper could only watch as Smith’s delicate chip found the net.
Fleet took charge after that and looked to be pocketing their first win for several weeks, when a defensive lapse allowed Chatham to even things from a corner, Danny Larkin’s header bouncing past several Fleet defenders before rolling into the goal.
Fleet then went all out to recover their lead and almost scored again when Sub Danny Boyle’s shot was only inches wide of the upright after a good passing move down the right.
With the scores level both sides appeared to have settled for a share of the points until the referee’s intervention handed the game to the visitors.
Fleet Town: Sparshatt, Buckland, Millerick, (sub, Black, 18 mins), Hare, Dalton, Ian Saunders, Proctor, (Maheady, 80), Hale, Mealey, (Boyle, 41), Smith, Simpson. Subs (not used): May.
Attendance: 101