Matches

GRAYS ALL AT SEA by Carol Smith-Allen

Grays suffered their second defeat of the season yesterday, having produced a below par performance at The Woodspring Stadium. Weston Super Mare, who are a hard-working physical side, achieved a well-earned 2-0 victory over Blues to become the only Club in the Conference South to be unbeaten at home.

First half possession was relatively even but Blues appeared to have difficulty in adjusting to the Seagulls style of play. Early chances for Blues fell to Dean Bradshaw, but were easily saved by Weston Super Mare keeper Ryan Northmore.

Despite some excellent defending by inform Steve Robinson, the Seagulls took the lead on 23 minutes; Mark McKeever broke into the Grays penalty area, and pulled the ball back for David Gilroy to slot home.

On 36 minutes Manager, Mark Stimson made his first substitution of the match replacing the lacklustre Freddy Eastwood with Vill Powell. Blues continued to search for an equaliser with the lively Leroy Griffiths creating chances, and then seeing his own close-range effort blocked by Northmore just before the interval.

The Seagull’s nearly doubled their advantage on 34 minutes when Skipper Billy Clark’s header from out wide was pushed away to safety by Emberson.

The second half started with Blue’s still trying to draw level, but the more time that elapsed the less likely they looked to score.

The first real opportunity of the second period fell to the Seagulls, when Emberson made an excellent save from Gilroy’s shot. Then minutes later, Weston Super Mare were virtually gifted their second. A defensive error by Blue’s allowed the ball to fall into the path of Adrian Mings who slid it past the out-stretched Emberson.

The closest Blue’s came to scoring was on 58 minutes when Griffiths fired over the crossbar. In an attempt to get back into the game, Mark Stimson made two substitutions in quick succession. First replacing Martin Carthy with Ade Olayinka, and then bringing on Daniel Lunan for Dean Bradshaw. However, apart from a pass from Lunan finding Powell, who hooked it high and wide, these changes made little difference.

No doubt Mark Stimson will be looking for Blue’s to overcome recent inconsistencies ahead of the start of their FA Cup Campaign against Wealdstone next Sunday.

Teams:-
Weston-Super-Mare:- Northmore, Hogg, Jenkins, Jarman, Clark, Rose, French, Slater, Gilroy, Mings, McKeever, Hayward Subs:- Cherry, Thomas (77 for Slater) Hunt, Hodge (85 for Gilroy)
Grays Athletic:- Emberson, Bruce, Nutter, Robinson, Wilds, Thurgood, Brennan, Carthy, Eastwood, Griffiths, Bradshaw Subs:- Powell (36 for Eastwood), Overland, Olayinka (72 for Carthy), Lunan (75 for Bradshaw), Hooper

Referee:- Kevin Milford

Attendance:- 288

Your comments

What the hell is going on. Last season Freddie Eastwood was selfish and at times very lazy yet he barely missed a match, but this season he is playing so much better yet he has now twice been substituted before the hour.

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