Matches

FREDDY SPOT ON FOR BLUES by Paul Smith-Allen

Grays continued their winning ways with a determined performance against visitors Kingstonian. In a game of few chances, Blues never approached anything like their best form, but controlled the game for long periods and always looked likely to take maximum points.

Grays began the match with the suspended Stuart Thurgood missing from midfield, his place being taken by Wesley Daly, a recent loan signing from Queens Park Rangers.

The visitors net was again kept by Lance Key, who took some stick from the home fans, and who will have been glad not to present Blues with the sort of gift goal he gave away in this fixture last season.

The game started under grey skies, with the temperature dropping and the threat of rain in the air.

Loan signing Daly had the first real opening of the match on 16 minutes. Good approach play from Blues saw Dale freed in space on the right-hand side of the penalty area. The debutant shot low and hard, drawing an excellent save from keeper Key.

On 27 minutes Kingstonian number nine and ex-Grays player, Stafford Browne, almost broke through the home defence, but was foiled at the last moment by a good recovery tackle from Steve ‘Robbo’ Robinson.

Immediately following Brown’s break, Blues should have taken the lead. More good inter-passing from Grays saw Leroy Griffiths get to the bye line and cut the ball back with the K’s defence at full stretch. The slightest touch from the on-rushing Freddie Eastwood would surely have seen the ball in the back of the net.

Though blues dominated, the visitors did have their moments. Liam Collins breaking down the right wing and delivering a fine cross only to see that his colleagues have not kept up with him, the ball falling harmlessly amongst three Grays defenders.

On the half-hour mark the ever lively Leroy Griffiths, again showing the fluid movement of recent games, sent in a shot from the edge of the box that flew narrowly past Key’s left-hand post with the keeper desperately scrambling across his line.

Ten minutes from the break, Blues top scorer Freddie Eastwood released a smart through ball into the Kingstonian box. Keeper Key had to be both sharp and brave, arriving to smother the ball just ahead of the boots of Leroy Griffiths.

On the stroke of half-time, Blues fans were on their feet in anticipation of a break through. Hot-shot Eastwood was put through some 30 yards out to advance unchallenged on the Kingstonian goal. Unfortunately, the striker managed to get the ball stuck between his feet and chance went begging.

The second half started as rain began to swirl around in the gusting wind. Mel Capleton was tested for the first time and saved smartly at the feet of Bashirk Alimi on 49 minutes.

Blues continued a worrying trend from the first half in giving away far too many free kicks and gradually K’s began to come more into the match. On 61 minutes. Stafford Browne sent in a looping effort from some 40 yards out that Capleton did well to tip over the bar for a corner. Two minutes later Browne threatened again when looking offside but blazed over. Grays responded with a swift attack, the ball being pulled back from the bye line for Freddie Eastwood who’s header was firm and on target but straight at Key.

After 66 minutes, manager Mark Stimson made a substitution, replacing Lee Williams with Ellis Remy. K’s skipper Matt Elverson’s late tackle on the substitute brought him a yellow card.

As the rain became heavier, causing the ball to zip off the playing surface, and driving the fans under cover, Grays finally made the breakthrough they had been searching for. K’s Stephen Bond handled in the box and referee O’Keefe had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Freddie Eastwood coolly converting the spot-kick, sending the ball low to the keeper’s left and into the corner of the net.

Blues continued to give away free kicks and tempers began to fray. A twelve-man version of ‘handbags at dawn’ was eventually sorted out by the referee and resulted in a booking for Eddie Youds. A further scuffle seven minutes from time, with what looked like a punch being thrown by a Grays player, again saw the referee pulling players apart.

A break down the right and subsequent cross was the last chance for Kingstonian to draw level, the ball being well cleared by Wesley Daly tracking back. Daly performed well throughout and looked sharp in the tackle.

As the clock wound down, Mel Capleton was shown a yellow card for time wasting, but by now there was no way back for the away side.

Grays, with another home league game on Tuesday evening, will be hoping that other results went their way as they look to climb the table and take advantage of games in hand.

Teams:-
Grays Athletic:- Capleton, Williams, Robinson, Lunan, Youds, Daly, Bruce, Carthy, Eastwood, Hayzelden, Griffiths Subs:- Olayinka, Barrett, Remy, Stimson, Bradshaw
Kingstonian:- Key, Broad, Smith, Elverson, Hustwick, Collins, Lewington, Garman, Browne, Payne, Alimi Subs:- Hinds, Steele, Bangura, Savage, Williams

Referee:- Mr. M. O'Keefe

Attendance:- 365

Your comments

Ref was a f****** disgrace

Edited by Web Manager

Its Wes Daly not Wes Dale!!!!!

Thanks Magic. I didn't write the report, but in future I will check it more thoroughly before I put it on.

Will now make the necessary amendments!!

Post a comment

Debate and banter are encouraged but please keep it civil. Racist and/or offensive remarks will be removed.

Please refer to our terms of use.

Forthcoming fixtures