Matches

GRIFFITHS ONE MAN SHOW IS A 'HORROR' FOR KING'S BOYS by Paul Smith-Allen

Blues recorded their second win of the week to reinforce a bright start to their first Conference South season. Although last season’s top scorer Freddie Eastwood missed the game due to a thigh injury, fellow striker Leroy Griffiths began his first match of the season, after suspension, and was to be involved in just about everything that happened, culminating in the scoring of all four Blues goals.

Amongst the starkness that is the continuing redevelopment of the Rec, the teams produced a largely forgettable first-half, with the ball being played in the air far too much resulting in little or no passing movement or fluency. Certainly there was little indication of the drama that would follow after the break.

Visitors Lewes produced the only clear-cut chance of the half when Kirk Watts sent over a deep cross from the right wing that found Luke Cornwall unmarked at the far post. The number nine should have done far better than direct a loose header over the bar. For their part, Grays huffed and puffed but could not make any real openings.

Lewes applied a sustained period of pressure during the last five minutes of the half, with Watts again producing some quality crosses. During this spell, Blues stalwart Eddie Youds made vital blocks, both in the penalty area, from Cornwall and Newman.

Blues came out for the second period and looked like a different team right from the kick-off with Liam George’s strong run into box only being halted by an excellent tackle from Francis Duke.

Both sides had upped the tempo considerably, runs seemed stronger, tackles became harder, and tempers began to fray. After the breakdown of a Grays attack, the visitors broke away and Lee Newman should have opened the scoring but shot straight at Blues keeper Carl Emberson.

As is so often the case when a side fails to take advantage of a scoring opportunity, they get punished. On 58 minutes George burst down the right wing, and found Dean Brennan in the box. Brennan turned his marker, got to the by-line, and cut the ball back for Griffiths to tap home the first of his haul of four.

Three minutes later Griffiths added his second. A long cross-field ball from the right-back position from John Nutter found the Lewes defence wanting and Griffiths finished with aplomb from just inside the box.

On 63 minutes several players from both sides were involved in an untidy scuffle. After lots of pushing and shoving, referee Brook finally managed to restore order and showed yellow-cards to both Daniel Lunan and skipper Martin Carthy.

The calm was short lived however, and on 67 minutes, tempers exploded again when experienced Lewes keeper Adenola Bankole caught a high ball under pressure from Griffiths. Griffiths continued to jostle, and despite seeming to be in control, Bankole swung his right elbow into the face of the striker, sending him to the ground. Again referee Brook took some time to gain control, and after consulting his linesman, dismissed the keeper, booked Griffiths, and awarded a penalty kick which the fired-up forward duly dispatched past stand-in keeper Joe Vines.

A man down, Lewes were now on the rack and Vines did well to hold a couple of long-range efforts and Blues sought to exploit his inexperience.

Manager Mark Stimson replaced the limping John Nutter with Mitch Cole after 73 minutes. Cole, playing wide on the left flank, treated the crowd to a fine cameo performance, showing a good turn of pace and excellent ball skills, and going close with a left-foot curler that went just over the bar.

Not to be upstaged, Griffiths put the lid on an outstanding performance with five minutes remaining. Twenty yards from goal, the man of the match turned and crashed an unstoppable drive past the helpless Vines and into the top corner of the net.

Griffiths made way, to rapturous applause, for Dean Bradshaw for the last few minutes of a game that neither he nor the Grays fans will forget for some time.

With three games gone, only Basingstoke has recorded maximum points. Blues are well placed on seven points together with local rivals Thurrock and Weston Super Mare. Grays will be looking to consolidate their position when they travel to Ashford to meet Margate on August 24th, reviving memories of last season's F.A. Cup clash, then down to the seaside to meet Weymouth over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Teams:-
Grays Athletic:- Emberson, Bruce, Lunan (booked 63 mins), Robinson, Youds, Thurgood, Brennan, Carthy (booked 63 mins), Griffiths (booked 70 mins), George, Nutter Subs:- Bradshaw (for Griffiths 86 mins), Overland, Olayinka, Wild, Cole (for Nutter 73 mins)
Lewes:- Bankole (sent off 67 mins), Vines, Hustwick, Duku (booked 67 mins), Watts, Kennett, Storey, Newman, Cornwall, Kadi, Clarke, Haughton Subs:- Haughton, Whiteman, Davis, Moore, Fieldwick

Referee:- S. Brook

Attendance:- 301

Your comments

a pleasure to watch the match this afternoon its nice to see a football team that wants to play football and to see leroy scoring brillant goals again keep going u blues

What else can one say WELL DONE BLUES and more of the same please

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