Matches

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN by Carol Smith-Allen

Blues showed yesterday why they are second in the table hot on the heels of Hornchurch. They outclassed and outplayed mid-table Dorchester Town at The Avenue Stadium to completely demolish them 7-0.

Grays playing some great attacking football, assisted by the wind during the first-half, didn’t take long to open the scoring. On 7 minutes Gary Hooper headed home from close-range after John Nutter’s free-kick had been headed across the goal face by Dean Brennan.

Four minutes later and Blues had increased their lead; the Magpies failed to clear Mitchell Cole’s corner properly, and despite Gary Middleton blocking one shot, Zeljko Popovic bundled the ball over the line.

This seemed to spark the Magpies into action, with a shot by Skipper Alex Browne being headed over from 6 yards, and shortly afterwards Nicky Eyre made a good save at the feet of Justin Keeler.

However, on 33 minutes Blues added a third goal, when Brennan’s corner was headed home at the near post by the unmarked Griffiths, and then five minutes before the interval Blues got their fourth of the match. The influential Griffiths went on a surging run down the left flank, having won the ball from Spanish midfielder Joseba Barandian, and slotted into the empty net. Not wishing to take any credit away from Griffiths, but the Magpies defence made it easier for him, by standing static waiting for an offside decision that wasn’t given.

Eyre was then called into action, blocking a shot from Barandian, which Joe Bruce then cleared out of the danger area.

With the home side’s defence looking anything but solid, it was then a case of when not if, Blues would get a fifth, and it came virtually on the stroke of half-time. Tony Battersby got on the end of Griffiths’ cross, and squared the ball to Brennan who struck a low drive into the far corner from 20 yards.

Although the elements favoured Dorchester in the second-half, being realistic it was always going to be a damage limitation exercise, and to give the home side their due they didn’t just ‘lay down and die.’ They pushed forward, and as such created more openings than in the first period, and on 66 minutes came close to reducing the deficit when Matt Grove’s strike drew an excellent save from Eyre.

Despite chances falling to Brennan, Griffiths and Battersby, and Griffiths continually roasting the Magpie’s defence, Blues didn’t get their sixth goal of the match until the 73rd minute. Vill Powell, having replaced Mitchell Cole, cut inside Middleton and sent a low shot towards the goal. Dorchester keeper Craig Bradshaw got his hands to it, but somehow the ball rolled through his legs.

After this piece of bad luck, the hosts just fell apart, and four minutes later Blues got their seventh and final goal. Brennan’s low cross was met by Hooper just beyond the far post, and he smashed the ball into the back of the net, giving Bradshaw no hope.

Grays then made two substitutions in quick succession, bringing on Carthy and Olayinka for Hooper and Thurgood, and taking no prisoners continued to lay siege to the Dorchester goal right up until the referee blew the final whistle.

Teams:-
Dorchester Town:- Bradshaw, Griffin, Radcliffe, Middleton, Browne (c), Jermyn, Robinson, Brown, Keeler, Groves, Barandiaran Subs: Poore, Andrade, Walker (on for Radcliffe 78 mins), Byerley (on for Brown 60 mins), Legg
Grays Athletic:- Eyres, Bruce, Nutter, Robinson, Popovic, Thurgood, Brennan, Hooper, Battersby, Griffiths, Cole Sub: Powell (on for Cole 70 mins), Carthy (on for Hooper 76 mins), Olayinka (on for Thurgood 85 mins), Dobson, Emberson

Referee:- T. Ingram

Attendance:- 463

Your comments

Could,nt believe the score Well done Blues bring on Newport "Great Stuff"

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