So close but just out of reach

Although an early penalty miss, Gss back line came alive when a well timed cross kick by Steven McNamara found Temi Okenla and with Dave Dorton backing up the easiest of tries was on the board.
The conversion from Dorton put Gravesend 7-0 to the good.
Gss had eighty percent of the possession, and were in control of the game until Ziggy Stevens was sent to the sin-bin after seventeen minutes during which time Shelford, who were on their first visit to Gravesend, struck back, with tries both scored from five metre drives to the line.
The first from the blind side flanker, James Kellard and the second on the end of the first quarter for Sam Redmayne, three minutes and the visitors were in front, but both kicks from the boot of Nick Borkett went wide. 7-10.
Dave Dorton, back in the xv for the first time for a couple of seasons, added one out of three penalties to his earlier conversion to bring the scores level.
Shelford look dangerous when their backs had the ball in hand, but no more so than Gss. Gravesend's pack showed a stability that was missing the previous week, with a steady front five a the set piece.
Better ball carrying going forward, but still a delay in getting it to the wings where Gss definitely have some pace. Line-out was working well and a good supply was won off the top.
Thirty-seven minutes on the clock and it seemed that Gss had stepped back off the pedal, as the visitors scored anothe ten points in three minutes to go in at the break 10-20 in front, the first from big lock forward Scott Jackowski followed by an individual well made try from just outside his twenty-two for Shingai Chiwanga.
An early missed penalty shortly after the restart, but, with twelve second half minutes played, Gravesend had reduced the arrears to three when Dorton added the conversion to Temi Okenla's try, 17-20.
A fairly tough but scrappy contest for possession but Gss getting the upper hand and before the third quarter was out, the ever present Geoff Marshall had crossed the whitewash for a score. Dorton added his third conversion from three and Gravesend had edged ahead 24-20.
There were few chances being created as the game went into the third quarter, Shelford who had played a well judged kicking game in the first half, now struggled to make use of the strong breeze that was in their favour, and although Gss forward moving ball in pack was better, neither XV were making any impression.
Again the Gravesend back row all had big games, with Thomas Bird, Will Meddings and Geoff Marshall laying their bodies on the line, but Gss still lack that penetration and support play when too many times the first player is isolated at the tackle.
As the clock passed the seventy minute mark Shelford had spoiled several chances to add to their score before wing Andrew Scott found enough space to chase through, 24-25 and the kick was missed by Tom Jackson.
Gss still had time to get the score they needed, but as happens at times they lost sight of the time and the need to spread the ball to the backs instead they kick for line-out possession to the opposition, putting themselves under unnecessary pressure.
Relief came to Shelford with the final whistle, and while they went away with five points, the losing bonus point did not really pay justice to the home XVs performance.