Matches

JUST DESSERTS FOR SAINTS SINNERS by Carol Smith-Allen

It was top versus bottom at the Rec yesterday, and although Grays obtained another valuable three points by defeating St. Albans 2-0 it was by no means an easy victory. Saints on the bottom rung and fighting for survival, used every trick in the book to stifle Blues usual free-flowing attractive football, and as a result the game was a very scrappy affair.

The first half contained very little goalmouth action at either end, but what it did have in abundance was free kicks, and the referee Mr. Beadle, was to say the least inconsistent and made some curious decisions. With eight minutes on the clock he booked Lee Matthews for what must have been a tackle from behind, when surely a warning would have sufficed. Two minutes later Saints Scott Cousins was also shown the yellow card for a foul on Gary Hooper.

Blues came close to opening the scoring on 20 minutes, when an excellent shot by Dean Brennan was tipped over the bar by keeper Paul Bastock for a corner.

Then came the first of the referee’s bizarre decisions; Saints new lad, 19 year old work experience midfielder Gary Elphick climbed all over Leroy Griffiths, but for some reason known only to himself, the referee awarded the free kick to the visitors.

Shortly afterwards, Mr. Beadle was hoodwinked by St. Albans forward Lee Clarke when he ‘collapsed like a deck of cards’……….......another free kick!

Just after the half an hour mark, Steve West almost got on the end of Stuart Thurgood’s 40 yard free kick, but Elphick just got to the ball first.

Minutes later Saints had their best chance of the half, when Elphick connected with Cousin’s corner at the far post sending the ball back across the goal face, but somehow or other it missed the awaiting players.

Again the referee was fooled by a St. Albans player, this time it was Cousins, when he blatantly took a dive on the edge of the box; yet another free kick, which was eventually cleared out of the danger area.

Virtually on the stroke of half-time Blues broke the deadlock. Saints Ben Martin was cautioned for a bad challenge on Griffiths, and although Bastock punched away the resulting free kick, the ball was nodded back in by Hooper for Matthews to head home. Bastock protested for a foul, but to no avail.

With the second half barely underway, Thurgood was booked for a foul, bringing his total to five, which means he will now serve a one match suspension. Martin again fouled Griffiths, but managed to escape a second caution.

At this point, Grays made their first substitution replacing Thurgood, and thereby giving ex-Urchin John Martin his first team debut.

Although Blues applied more pressure during the second period, Saints had the opportunity to equalize on more than one occasion, but Ashley Bayes showed what a quality keeper he is producing two superb saves. Firstly, making a finger tip save from ex-Gravesend & Northfleet midfielder Tom Davis’ close range effort after Clarke had squared the ball to him, and then tipping the ball over from Matt Hann’s 25 yard free kick.

In the meantime, Bastock had made a good save at the feet of Brennan who had been put through by Mitchell Cole, and Grays had made a second substitution replacing West with Vill Powell. Saints had also brought on Tom Beech at the expense of Nolan.

With twenty minutes remaining the atmosphere around the Rec was becoming very tense, fuelled by the Saints on pitch tactics. The opposition appeared to know more tricks than Paul Daniels!! Cousins continued to pat and prod Gary Hooper, and had Dean Hooper pulled Powell’s shirt any harder it would have been off his back!

In the 78th minute Blues extended their lead; good interplay by Griffiths, Cole and Martin set up Brennan, who has excelled since moving from the wing to the centre of midfield, and he poked the ball past Bastock for Blues second goal.

Griffiths was again impeded by Ben Martin, but his low 20 yard free kick was saved by the keeper. However, as the final whistle approached Blues nearly made it three, when Brennan brilliantly chipped Bastock but was denied by the crossbar.

Then an oscar winning performance by Davis gave Saints a last chance to reduce the deficit, but Hann’s 25 yard free kick was blocked by the Grays wall.

Teams:-
Grays Athletic:- Bayes, Bruce, Nutter, Robinson, Matthews, Thurgood (c), Brennan, Hooper, West, Griffiths, Cole Subs:- Powell (for West 69 mins), Emberson, Battersby, Martin (for Thurgood 57 mins), Oli
St. Albans City:- Bastock, Hooper, Cousins, Roddis, Martin, Elphick, Hann, Parker, Nolan, Clarke, Davis Subs:- Seeby, Zoricich, Marwa, Beech (for Nolan 73 mins), Armand

Referee:- Mr. J. Beadle

Attendance:- 537

Your comments

Another good result albeit hard work against a resoltue St Alban's team. The referee wasn't Jeremy Beadle was he? It was fortunate that the end result was not affected by some of his decisions. He was very poor, and it is people like this that ruin the game from a supporters point of view.

grays are the best

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