Matches

GRIFFITHS SHINES FOR TOILING BLUES
by Paul Smith-Allen

In a typical end of season affair at New Lodge, Blues made hard work of securing victory over relegation-threatened Billericay. In a game lacking any sense of fluency, decided by top-scorer Freddie Eastwood’s strike just before half time, it was only the hard work and tireless running of Leroy Griffiths that came any were near matching the spring sunshine.

Although Grays, again starting without Eddie Youds, dominated throughout, and started brightly, attacks too often broke down around the edge of the box and when chances did arrive, several players were guilty of poor finishing. Within the first ten minutes, Freddie Eastwood had broken into the box only to lose control at the vital moment, and Town keeper Luke Weaver had saved well from Leroy Griffiths. Martin Carthy should have done better on 20 minutes; having done the hard part by controlling Joe Bruce’s cross, the skipper scuffed his shot tamely goalwards. Clear cut chances were at a premium and ex-Grays centre-back Robin Trott was the pick of the Town defenders.

Billericay sought mainly to hit on the break with two chances coming their way around the quarter hour mark. Danny Hockton made an awful hash of a good left-wing cross after 14 minutes when unmarked in the box, then shortly afterwards managed to beat Mel Capleton to a long ball out of defence, lobbing the Blues keeper, only to see Joe Bruce clear calmly from the goal line.

Just before the break Eastwood tapped in to give Blues the lead after excellent approach work by Griffiths. The home side responded immediately and Chris Wild, who struggled throughout, almost headed into his own net. Keeper Capleton came to the rescue with a superb reaction save, tipping the ball over the bar.

Blues started the second period with Danny Hayzelden on for Wes Daly and came out looking like they meant business, with Freddie Eastwood firing a thunderous drive just over and Griffiths glancing a header just wide from Daniel Lunan’s cross. The momentum seemed to fade however, and the game began to degenerate into a scrappy affair with neither side seeming too concerned about the outcome.

Ellis Remy and Lloyd Opara were introduced to replace Freddie Eastwood and Dean Bradshaw, and Remy drew the save of the match from Luke Weaver when the big keeper blocked at point-blank range.

Grays were unable to find the killer second goal to ease the tension and looked increasingly uneasy at the back. Town’s Danny Hockton came close to an equaliser when he dispossessed Steve Robinson in the box, but with the Blues defence appealing for a foul, the number ten could only managed to fire a shot straight at Capleton.

With the final whistle approaching, Remy wasted another good chance when well placed, and Stuart Thurgood fired a screamer just wide of Weaver’s left-hand post.

Referee Lodge played several minutes of additional time during which Chris Wild received the yellow card that just about summed his afternoon up, and Danny Hockton finally had the ball in the net for Town only to be denied by an offside flag.

Dean Bradshaw got a starting place in the Grays side

Grays captain Martin Carthy tracking in midfield

Wes Daly wins a challenge

Danny Hayzelden started the second half in place of Wes Daly

Stuart Thurgood could have settled the game

Teams
Billericay Town:- Weaver, Henty, Aziz, Trott, Sappleton, Dormer (Captain), Tomlinwon, lack, Opara, Hockton, Hunter Subs:- Steve, Stowe, Davidson, Bauckham

Grays Athletic:- Capleton, Bruce, Robinson, Lunan, Wild, Thurgood, Daly, Carthy (Captain), Eastwood, Griffiths, Bradshaw Subs:- Hayzelden, Barrett, Remy, Marwa, Opara

Referee:- J. Lodge

Attendance:- 609

Your comments

A workmanlike performance against a game 'Riccay.

Griffiths and Eastwood tormented them.

Defence outstanding. Great save from Mel from Chris Wild's header!

Bring on the 'Ayes!!

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