Matches

PURPLE 'HAYES' by Carol Smith-Allen

It wasn’t the start to the season that most Blues fans had hope for, as Grays (wearing the new purple kit for the first time) secured only a point at Church Lane in a match of contrasting halves – the first being incredibly dull, and the second being a much livelier affair.

The first period saw Blues having the majority of the possession, but with few scoring opportunities as they found it difficult to penetrate the Hayes defence. Their first chance came on 3 minutes when Vill Powell with just the Hayes keeper, Kevin Davies to beat shot wide. Then on the half hour mark Powell collided with Davies, leaving Dean Brennan to pick up the lose ball, but his effort also went wide. A minute later the hard-working Brennan saw the keeper off his line, but somehow Davies managed to save his 25 yard strike.

The home side had even less chances, and it was not until late on that they threatened for the first time, when Josh Scott saw his shot blocked by Steve Robinson.

Hayes made their first substitution just after the interval, replacing the ineffective Dominic White with Jon Case. However, it was Blues who opened the scoring on 57 minutes; Eddie Youds knocked Brennan’s free-kick onto Martin Carthy who prodded the ball home.

The home side immediately pushed forward looking for an equaliser, and forced Carl Emberson into making a couple of excellent saves. They then came very close to scoring when Scott and Goodall combined only to see the experienced Eddie Youds block Kieran Knight’s shot. At the other end Mitchell Cole (now on for John Nutter) won the ball out wide, and crossed for Powell whose shot went well over.

Hayes determination eventually paid dividends when they drew level on 72 minutes. Adam Everitt fed Scott on the left-wing and his left-footed cross-shot evaded the Blue’s defence, and found its way over Carl Emberson and into the net.

Both sides then had good chances; firstly Powell beat Jason O’Connor and fed Freddie Eastwood who shot weakly into the side netting, while at the other end Emberson failed to fully clear Jon Case’s powerful strike, but fortunately Brennan was quickest to the lose ball and hacked it clear.

Moments before the final whistle Blues felt sure they had the match sewn up, when Eddie Youds headed in Mitchell Cole’s corner. Although the whole of the ball appeared to have crossed the line, not once but twice, before being cleared by Jason O’Connor, the linesman was nowhere in sight and the goal was not given. Blues are without a doubt entitled to feel aggrieved at not taking all 3 points.

Teams
Hayes:- Davies, Collins, Everitt, O'Connor, Gray, Goodall, White, Williams, Scott, Knight, Warner Subs:- Case (for 7 46mins), Demetrious, Yoki (for 10 78 mins), Woodcock, Goldman
Grays Ath:- Emberson, Bruce, Lunan, Robbo, Youds, Thurgood, Brennan, Carthy, Powell, George, Nutter Subs:- Wild, Overland, Eastwood (for 10 61 mins), Olayinka, Cole (for 11 57 mins)

Referee:- C J Williams

Forthcoming fixtures