Chester kicked off today's FA Cup encounter shooting towards their own fans in the north terrace in the first half, an unusual sight at the Deva.

It was Chester who made the most pressing attacks in the early stages and Ben Davies made a good run down the right hand channel in the fourth minute but his shot was straight at Wikerson in the Gravesend goal.

In the sixth minute Chester won the first corner of the match which McIntyre played inswinging to the far post where Darryn Stamp's header went just over and came down on top of the netting.

An almost carbon copy corner occurred four minutes later which McIntyre played just beyond the far post.  It was played into the box but Gravesend were defending the corner in numbers and was easily cleared.

The game built slowly from a quiet start and in the eighteenth minute Stamp again tested the Gravesend keeper with a long range shot from the left.

It was Daryl Clare who had the best chance of the game so far in the 21st minute with a great shot from 12 yards which was blocked by the keepers legs.  Darryn Stamp chased after the rebounding ball but could not make a clean contact before it was cleared away to safety.

Rob Howarth had the opportunity to open the scoring for Gravesend in the 30th minute.  It would have been a goal that Darryn Stamp would have been proud of but his aim was well off target and went wide right for a Chester goal kick.

Clare received a good ball from midfield in the 35th and spun round to hit it with his right foot but found Wilkerson well placed to save it comfortably.  It was Ian McCaldon's turn a minute later when Christopher Moore was given a free header at goal from Gravesend's first corner of the game but McCaldon held it well.

He turned traitor a minute later though when he came out for a cross and missed it, flattening Steve Perkins in the process who required extensive treatment. The result was inevitably a penalty.

Justin Skinner stepped up to take the spot kick and although McCaldon guessed correctly the penalty was well taken and went in at the right hand post to give Gravesend the lead against the run of play six minutes from the break.

Chester tried to get one back before half time and Paul Carden had a good shot at goal in the 45th minute which was driven powerfully just wide of the left hand post.

So Chester a goal down at half time against the run of play but it is fair to say that they lacked creativity for most of the first half.  The chances when they came were always well covered by Gravesend who were defending in numbers.

Chester started brightly in the second half with two corners in the 47th and 48th respectively.  Danny Collins got his head to both of them, the first being deflected behind for the second corner but his second effort was off target and went wide right for a goal kick.

Chester had another corner two minutes later which was played into the centre of the box by Ben Davies.  Daryl Clare got his head to it but it was too high for him to bring it under control and it was cleared away.

Their fourth corner of the half came in the 51st again taken by Ben Davies.  The goalkeeper parried the initial shot away and after a bit of a scramble in the penalty area the ball came back out to Ben Davies who shot wide left for a goal kick.

It was Gravesend who nearly extended their lead in the 57th minute when a great close range shot from Francis Duku forced a reflex reaction save from McCaldon.  His punch only managed to push the ball onto the crossbar though, a very close call indeed.

Chester came within a few inches of equalising almost immediately at the other end when Bolland played a long ball upfield to Darryn Stamp who flicked it on quickly to Daryl Clare. Clare's shot went just inches wide of the left hand upright.

Michael Twiss replaced Ian Foster in the 65th minute to try and give Chester the vital missing spark.  Another corner came almost immediately for Chester but Ben Davies cross was too close to the keeper who collected it easily.

Chester were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position in the 70th minute.  Daryl Clare blasted the ball low and straight into the defensive wall. Brady then replaced Heard on the right hand side for Chester.

Kevin McIntyre was next to test Wilkerson in the 73rd minute with a good effort on goal which was tipped over the bar by the keeper.  Michael Twiss was next in the 76th with a quick header as the ball was played across the goal but it's momentum carried it well wide of the left hand post.

Chester were pushing forwards desperately now to try and stay in the competition.  They had another corner in the 79th minute which was played short by McIntyre and cleared at the near post.

Kevin Rapley replaced Daryl Clare in the 80th minute.  The final ten minutes was all one way traffic towards the Gravesend goal but Gravesend were defending resolutely and managed to hold out for a place in the second round to the delight of the 150 or so Gravesend and Northfleet fans who celebrated with the team after the final whistle.

So big disappointment for Chester as they exit the cup earlier than planned. Deva TXT for once agrees with the match sponsors and the man of the match award goes to Paul Carden who worked hard in midfield and had a few good cracks at goal into the bargain.