Matches

by Carol Smith-Allen

Blue’s inflicted a 3-1 defeat on fellow Essex ‘boys’ Dagenham & Redbridge last night. In what proved to be a lively and entertaining match, Blue’s outshone and for the most outplayed the ‘Daggers’, and this must surely leave the Conference Premier side a little concerned.

The first half saw Blue’s have more of the possession, but with only a few clear cut chances for either side as they both found it difficult to penetrate the other’s defence.

The first real scoring opportunity fell to Dagenham on 20 minutes when John Taylor got on the end of Lee Goodwin’s cross, only to see his shot produce an excellent save from Blue’s keeper Carl Emberson. A few minutes later Dagger’s keeper Tony Roberts was called into action when he saved Stuart Thurgood’s powerful 20 yard strike. However, Blue’s persistence paid off on 30 minutes when Dean Brennan volleyed the ball home from out on the right, having lost his marker Shane Blackett.

Immediately, Dagenham pushed forward, but it was Blue’s that looked more likely to score again, with Brennan’s 20 yard free-kick going through the Dagenham wall and bobbling past the post, and then Carthy’s sliced shot being saved by Roberts.

I’ve no idea what ‘Stimmo’ said to the lads at half-time, but they started the second-half in a determined fashion; forcing two corners in 90 seconds. However, on 48 minutes the visitors equalised when Glen Southam beat two defenders and scored from close-range.

The pace remained lively, and those present witnessed some great free-flowing football. Although initially end to end, Blue’s soon began to dominate, and increased their lead on 65 minutes when following a corner a goal-mouth scramble ensued, and the resulting lose ball fell to Chris Wild who wasted no time in prodding it home.

With Dean Bradshaw now on for the injured Freddie Eastwood, and Robinson and Griffiths having been replaced due to head injuries following a collision, Blue’s continued to apply pressure, and increased their lead further on 76 minutes; Blue’s corner instead of going directly goal-bound was passed backwards, and picked up by Dean Bradshaw whose powerful long-shot left the Daggers keeper with no chance as it hit the back of the net.

Dagenham came back into the game, but to no avail as they just could not make their chances count, and it was Blue’s who came closest two minutes from time when Bradshaw had another long-shot only this time Tony Roberts managed to turn it away for a corner.

Teams:-
Grays Athletic:- Emberson, Bruce, Lunan, Wild, Robinson, Thurgood, Brennan, Carthy, Powell, Eastwood, Nutter Subs:- Bradshaw, Overland, Olayinka, Cole, Vaughan, Griffiths, + no 15 (name unknown)
Dagenham & Redbridge:- Roberts, Uddin, Blackett, Goodwin, Vickers, Leberl, Janney, Southam, Taylor, Boot, Mackail-Smith Subs:- Midson, Bussey (G/K), Moore, Hill, Byrne, Perfect, Flynn, Warren

Your comments

Another good show of passing football from Blues we look to have a good squad of players and things look promising for the coming season.

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