UNITED showed great determination and spirit on Tuesday evening against one of the leading contenders for the Premier Division title and were unlucky to come away without at least a point.
Gravesend set off at a cracking pace with a Smith header just over the bar in the first minute and a shot from Burton going the same way a minute later.
It was no surprise, therefore, when they took the lead in the sixth minute – the ball being played out to Steve McKimm on the edge of the box and his lob eluding keeper Richie Barnard.
Rather than buckling under this pressure, the Magpies rallied and took the game to their opponents.
Lee Channell and Michael Gorman both had decent chances and Gravesend’s keeper Blake was kept very busy.
More pressure was exerted by the Magpies forwards, with Gorman seemingly everywhere and, just when it seemed a goal would be elusive, Chris Ferdinand intercepted a mis-directed Gravesend pass, played it through to Channell and his centre was guided home by the incoming Rickey Ibe on 28 minutes.
United did not sit back and continued to look for the lead, with another Gorman shot forcing Blake into another good save.
It was against the run of play when the home side regained the lead in the 43rd minute. A seemingly innocuous cross from the right was allowed to reach Martin whose weak centre found its way to Steve McKimm who shot tamely home thanks to a deflection off Jamie Jarvis.
The second half continued at the same pace with both teams pressing forward at every opportunity; Gorman and Ferdinand going close for the visitors.
Gravesend extended their lead on 64 minutes when an attempted clearance by Brian Connor hit Hatch and the ball flew over Barnard.
At 3-1, this was cruel luck for the Magpies, but they continued to strive to reduce the arrears and Gorman shot over an empty net after a misplaced pass from the opposition.
On 72 minutes, the mood of the game changed when Gorman was the victim of a two-footed tackle by Hatch, who was instantly shown the red card.
A moronic section of the Gravesend crowd then booed the appearance of the stretcher to take him from the field.
The United players showed admirable restraint in not taking any retaliatory action.
The remainder of the match was inevitably played at a subdued tempo and Ulasi reduced the arrears when he picked up a cross and hit a marvellous first-time right-foot shot into the back of the net.
The result did not do justice to United’s display.

Teams:
Gravesend and Northfleet: Blake, Burton, Martin, McKimm, Barnett, Duku, Smith, Lye, Wilkins, Booth, Jackson. Subs: Hatch, Lee, Williams.
Maidenhead United: Barnard, Ferdinand, Connor, Hickey, Jeffrey, Jarvis, Kelly, Ibe, Channell, Gorman, Ulasi. Subs: Morley, Scott, Saunders.