Matches

by Carol Smith-Allen and Allan Fulbrook

On a bitterly cold November’s evening Grays Athletic played Southern League Division 1 East side Harlow Town at their rather depressing Sports Centre ground in the 3rd Round of the Essex Senior Cup. Although not the most scintillating of matches, the 20 or so Blues fans who braved the elements were rewarded with a 4-1 victory as Grays eased their way into the next phrase.

Blues fielding four ex-Urchins (Steve West, Ashley Bayes, Lee Matthews and Jamie Stuart) following the recent demise of their main rivals Hornchurch FC, were in control from start to finish, and with only thirty-five seconds on the clock took the lead. Local lad, Steve West headed the ball onto ex-Cambridge United and QPR striker Dennis Oli who slotted home from close-range.

The Hawks then began to get into the game, but not before their keeper had been tested twice by Vill Powell. Although Hawks had a fair amount of possession they could only create a couple of half-chances.

Just after the half an hour mark, and against the run of play, Blues extended their lead. Good interplay by Carthy and Powell set up West, who tapped the ball into the net.

Three minutes later, Powell was flattened by the Harlow keeper, but the referee obviously did not feel that this warranted a penalty.

Hawks then applied a little pressure, and five minutes before the interval it paid dividends; their no. 11 got on the end of a short corner, took the ball around Nutter and passed to the unmarked ex-Blues player Toby Oshitola, who poked the ball home at the near post.

However, on the stroke of half time Blues restored their two goal cushion; Oli crossed the ball from out on the right flank to Cole, who had enough time and space to fire it into the back of the net from 18 yards.

Whereas the first half had been quite lively, the second half by comparison was rather dull and uneventful. Just as well really, because with an hour gone, my scribe’s hands were so cold he could barely write!!

At this point, it would appear that the Harlow Manager must have seen Blues victory as a foregone conclusion, and decided that the best course of action was a damage limitation exercise. He therefore instructed his players to get behind the ball, and as a result of this they hardly threatened the Grays goal during the second period.

On 50 minutes Blues made their first substitution replacing Dennis Oli with utility player Gavin Heeroo, and a quarter of an hour later thought they had got a fourth, but Carthy’s headed goal was disallowed due to a foul.

Manager Mark Stimson then made his second substitution, bringing on Tony Battersby for Vill Powell, and almost immediately Battersby scored his second goal for the club and Blues fourth of the match.

Grays then continued to dominate, with West heading wide, the Hawks keeper saving at the feet of Heeroo, and by far Blues best chance came a minute before the final whistle when a terrific 25 yard strike from West hit the bar.

Grays Ath:- Bayes, Nutter, Matthews, Stuart, Bruce, Cole, Carthy, Oli, Brennan, West, Powell Subs:- Battersby, Heeroo, Emberson ??

N.B. No team sheet was available for this match

Your comments

Another good win. Do we know who we have in the next round? A home draw would be nice.

BTW I have seen Tobi Oshitola's name spelt without the "h"(for obvious reasons!).

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