Matches

POWELL FORCES SEA-SIDE STALEMATE by Carol Smith-Allen

Blues unbeaten run remains intact although it was a close shave against inform Eastbourne Borough at Priory Lane yesterday.

Grays started on the offensive and dominated the first twenty-five minutes of play, with Borough finding themselves on the back foot. An early chance fell to Griffiths who had been set-up by Stuart Thurgood, but his close range effort was saved by Borough keeper Lee Hook, and a minute later Steve West had a great opportunity when well placed on the edge of the six yard box, but blasted over the bar.

However, on 18 minutes Blues got the opener they had been striving for. West, making amends for his earlier miss, headed home from John Nutter’s deep ball into the area.

This goal seemed to spark a new lease of life into Borough, and for the remainder of the first period the home side, and in particular forwards Scott Ramsay and Loui Fazackerley caused the Grays defence numerous problems. On 26 minutes, Ramsay made a good run through the middle, but shot narrowly wide when under pressure from Lee Matthews, and moments later the no. 9 was through again with only Ashley Bayes to beat but shot weakly, and the Grays keeper pushed the ball around the post and out of play. From the resultant corner Borough skipper Stuart Tuck headed home the equalizer.

With the Blues defence at sixes and sevens it was not surprising that the hosts got a second goal six minutes after their first. Ramsay, proving that it really is third time lucky slotted past Bayes from close range having been put through by Ollie Rowland.

Shortly afterwards Borough came close to getting a third; firstly when Fazackerley was through on goal but fortunately for Blues shot just wide, and then Bayes kept Grays in the game by producing an excellent finger tip save from Matt Smart’s curling shot.

Although Blues had weathered the storm during the latter stages of the first period, the interval surely couldn’t have come quick enough to enable the defence to regroup.

Second half play was on a more even keel with the Grays back-line having thankfully recovered their composure, and on 50 minutes Griffiths had a good chance from close range but sliced his shot well wide. While at the other end Ben Austin headed just over from Danny Simmonds’ corner.

On the hour mark Blues made their first substitution replacing Skipper Stuart Thurgood with Gary Hooper. Grays then forced a couple of corners before making two more substitutions in quick succession, bringing on Tony Battersby for Dennis Oli, and then replacing West with Vill Powell.

With ten minutes of the second period remaining, and with nothing to lose, Blues pushed forward looking for the equalizer. Cole’s cross shot went narrowly wide, and Hooper’s 23 yard strike flew over the bar. Then in the 88th minute Grays drew level; a cross from the right-hand flank found Powell lurking at the far post, and the substitute hooked the ball powerfully past the Borough keeper and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net, much to the delight of the travelling Blues fans.

Eastbourne proved to be the most difficult opponents Grays have faced for some considerable time, so it is more a case of a point gained rather than two lost.

Teams:-
Eastbourne Borough:- Hook, Baker, Tuck (c), Smart, Playford, Austin, Simmonds, Chapman, Ramsay, Fazackerley, Rowland Subs:- Myall, Beck (used), Crabb, Smith (used), Lightwood
Grays Athletic:- Bayes, Bruce, Nutter, Stuart, Matthews, Thurgood (c), Brennan, Oli, Griffiths, West, Cole Subs:- Robinson, Battersby (used), Powell (used), Hooper (used), Emberson

Referee:- Mr. A. A. Laver

Attendance:- 889

Headline provided by 'Athboy'

Your comments

You were very lucky - good luck for the rest of the season.

I suppose a fair result overall although we finished the game much stronger and most likly would have won if there was another 10 minutes of play as eastbourne were hanging on towards the end

We were only hanging on at the end because there was a few minutes to play and we we winning while you were throwing everything at us. However a good match overall.

Our part-timers on £300 a week certainly showed up your overpaid fulltimers .
you may have won 11 on the spin but after going behind you certainly looked all at sea and very square at the back especially to pace

Sour grapes neil we shall see who is top of the league at the end of the season "Grays by a mile"

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