Matches

by Carol Smith-Allen

On a sweltering afternoon down at the Rec (which is currently undergoing a major ‘facelift’), Grays played Southend United and worked hard to earn themselves a draw against the 2nd division side.

The first half saw few chances, with the best falling to the Shrimpers on 22 minutes, when Mark Gower through on goal went just a little too wide and saw his shot hit the side netting. Ten minutes later Bramble saw his second shot of the half cleared by Gray’s stalwart Eddie Youds, who made a number of important clearances during the first 45 minutes.

Blue’s best chance came on 18 minutes when ‘new boy’ Vill Powell’s glancing header from a Dean Brennan cross was saved by Shrimper’s keeper Grimink.

Blue’s started the second half on the offensive with a powerful shot on goal by Brennan, followed by two efforts from Powell. Southend retaliated with a strike by Lewis Hunt, being tipped over by Blue’s (and ex-southend) keeper Carl Emberson.

The Shrimper’s then began to dominate, and had their best scoring opportunity on 29 minutes when Hunt blasted over the bar. Two minutes later Jim Corbett got on the end of an excellent cross by Wilson, but his shot also went over. In amongst these shots, Blue’s broke away and Dean Brennan’s attempted lob was saved by Southend keeper Flanavan. Play then evened out, and Blue’s had their best chance of the half on 36 minutes when Freddie Eastwood’s shot went just wide.

I feel it must be mentioned that although the ground may resemble Beirut at the moment, the pitch itself looked absolutely superb.

Teams:-
Grays Athletic Starting Line-Up:- Emberson, Bruce, Lunan, Wild, Youds, Thurgood, Brenan, Carthy, Powell, Baptiste, Nutter Subs:- Robinson, Overland, Bradshaw, Remy, Olayinka, Cole, Eastwood

Southend United Starting Line-Up:- Grimink, Jupp, Nicolau, Hunt, Edwards, Gower, Bentley, Pettefer, Dudfield, Prior, Bramble Subs:- Maher, Gray, Flahaven, Williams, Barrett, Corbett, Husbands, Wilson

Attendance:- 560 (so I've heard!!)

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