Matches

BLUES ADD TO WELLING'S WOES by Carol Smith-Allen

Grays secured a valuable three points at the Rec yesterday against Welling United, currently floundering at the bottom of the table. In what proved to be an entertaining and action-packed match, struggling Welling made Blue’s work hard for their victory, by coming back from being two nil down before Blues went on to win by four goals to two.

Young goalkeeper Nicholas Eyre currently on loan from Tottenham made his debut for Blues, and both Eddie Youds and Mitchell Cole returned following injuries.

Blues started on the offensive, and with just two minutes gone took the lead. Gary Hooper, a player with huge potential, got on the end of a Mitchell Cole corner at the far post and drove home.

Blues continued to dominate play, and with the Welling defence looking decidedly shaky, could have quickly gone further ahead had it not been for some superb saves from Welling keeper Danny Skinner. However, on 26 minutes against the run of play Welling came close, Nicky Eyre having to make a brilliant save from Billy Amarteifio’s powerful shot.

Cole then had a low shot saved by Skinner, and a minute later he got on the end of a pinpoint cross from Griffiths, but blazed over the bar. The impressive Griffiths was then involved in Blue’s second goal; Hooper received the ball from Griffiths following a clever back-heel, and crossed it in for Powell who fired it into the back of the net. Hooper himself then came close to getting his second, but luck was not on his side. With keeper Skinner beaten his shot hit the inside of the upright and spun out across the goalmouth.

Two minutes later Blues suffered their first setback. On the break, poor defending gifted Welling’s Tommy Tyne a free-header, which gave Eyre no chance. Tyne’s goal appeared to galvanise the visitors, and also to cause Blues to temporarily lose focus.

The second half started on a more even keel, with Welling’s confidence definitely having been boosted, and on 56 minutes they drew level. Alistair Heselton’s cross from out on the flank found Jamie Gould on the edge of the box, and he wasted no time in blasting the ball past Eyre.

Shortly afterwards, Manager Mark Stimson made a couple of substitutions in quick succession, replacing Vill Powell with experienced striker Tony Battersby, and then Steve Robinson with new boy Ricky Dobson. Welling also made a substitution, taking off the injured Billy Amarteifio and bringing on Kevin Watson.

Following these changes Blues stepped up a gear, but were unable to penetrate the more resolute looking Welling defence until the 75th minute; Griffiths collected the ball down the left, and his perfectly timed cross was met by the approaching Dean Brennan, who smashed home for Blues third.

Welling looked for a reply, but excellent defending by Youds forced Alex Revell to shoot wide.

On 79 minutes Blues restored their two goal cushion, when Youds got on the end of John Nutter’s free-kick to send a wonderful bullet header whizzing past Skinner into the top of the net.

Blues were now buzzing and looking for a fifth, with Griffiths, Brennan and Battersby all missing good chances

Teams:-
Grays Athletic:- Eyre, Bruce, Nutter, Robinson, Youds, Thurgood (c), Brennan, Hooper, Powell, Griffiths, Cole Subs:- Olayinka (on for Hooper 89 mins), Emberson, Dobson (on for Robinson 69 mins), Battersby (on for Powell 65 mins), Carthy

Welling United:- Skinner, Browne, Barnard, Wiles (c), Amarteifio, Hesleton, Slatter, Street, Tyne, Revell, Gould Subs:- Booth, Day, Lay, Watson (for Amarteifio 65 mins)

Referee:- Mr. D. Bushell

Attendance:- 248

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