Matches

BLUES RETURN TO WINNING WAYS
by Paul Smith-Allen

After two consecutive defeats that saw them slip to sixth in table, Blues returned to winning ways at the Rec with a 3-1 victory over Basingstoke.
Hot-shot striker Freddie Eastwood, the subject of much mid-week transfer speculation, began the game on the bench.

The first half was a tale of near misses for Blues, with Stuart Thurgood driving a shot just over the bar on 3 minutes, and Lloyd Opara heading tamely at Stokes keeper Scott Tarr when well placed. During a goalmouth scramble on 10 minutes, Tarr made an excellent save with his legs from Leroy Griffiths’ close-range strike.

The last twenty minutes of the first half could justifiably be called the ‘Eddie Youds Roadshow’, with the big defender having four headed attempts on the ‘Stoke goal. The closest of these crashed against the bar with the rebound being scrambled away by a desperate defence.

‘Stoke threatened only on the break with their best effort being a strong run into the box by Nathan Stamp. The full back was halted by a well timed tackle from Steve Robinson who turned in one of his best performances of the season.

After the break Grays continued to do all the pressing, though Basingstoke almost went in front on 66 minutes. Joe Bruce did well to deflect a shot over his own bar, and from the resulting corner, Eddie Youds needed to be alert to clear a header off the line.

A double substitution on the hour by Mark Stimson proved to be the spark of inspiration Grays needed. Top scorer Freddie Eastwood came on to replace Lloyd Opara, and Danny Hayzelden made way for another striker, Ellis Remy. Within three minutes, Blues were in front. Substitute Remy jinked his way down the right wing and squared the ball to Stuart Thurgood on the edge of the box. The midfielder converted superbly, sending a looping half-volley over keeper Tarr.

The visitors responded briefly, forcing a series of free-kicks and corners, and substitute Cristian Levis curled a twenty yarder just past Mel Capleton’s left-hand post after good work from Neville Roach.

Grays had now upped the tempo and were moving into their best spell of the match. Mark Paterson’s late challenge on Wes Daly saw him escape the expected yellow card. But Basingstoke received the ultimate punishment when Freddie Eastwood crashed home the twenty-five yard free kick with tremendous aplomb.

Just when the points seemed secure, ‘Stoke found a life-line when Levis rose unchallenged from a corner to plant a header into the top left-hand corner of the net with Capleton well beaten.

Grays were not to be denied however, and put the result beyond doubt in the dying moments. Freddie Eastwood’s vision enabled him to find Martin Carthy unmarked in the ‘Stoke box, and although the Blues skipper scuffed his shot, it carried enough pace to beat the outstretched arms of Scott Tarr.

Blues now climb above Carshalton into fifth place and with second-placed Hendon dropping points, next Saturday’s clash with Essex rivals Hornchurch may prove to be decisive in the hunt for the runners-up spot.

Teams

Grays Ath
Capleton, Bruce, Robinson, Lunan, Youds, Thurgood, Daly, Carthy (Capt), Opara, Hayzelden, Griffiths. Subs: Eastwood, Barrett, Bradshaw, Remy, Olayinka.

Basingstoke Town
Tarr, Stamp (Nathan), Stamp (Neville), Sumner, Bristow, Allaway, Burgess, Ram, McAllister, Roach, Torres. Subs: Levis, Paterson, Ewin, Watkins, Warner

Referee: Mr G.Mason

Attendance: 268

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