Matches

MATCH REPORT VS COLCHESTER UNITED by Carol Smith-Allen

On home turf Grays looked a completely different outfit to the one that had played East Thurrock on Thursday night, and gave Colchester United a bit of a shock by their own admission to emerge victors against the League Division Two side. In contrast to Thursday?s match this game was entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable.

Mark Stimson adopted a similar approach to that used at The Rookery with seven regulars (Nutter, Stuart, West, Thurgood, Martin, Battersby, McClean and Bayes) alongside three trialists forming his starting line-up.

First half play was lively with Grays having slightly more of the possession, and within minutes of the start Blues came close. McClean knocked the ball into the path of no. 11 (trialist), who in turn crossed to Martin but the midfielder was denied by the Colchester keeper Dean Gerken.

However, Blues fans didn?t have to wait long. With just nine minutes on the clock trialist Michael Knightley evaded Stephen Hunt, kept his composure and coolly lofted the ball over the on-rushing keeper to make it 1-0.

Colchester looked for a reply, but their first real effort at goal didn?t come until the 20th minute when Greg Halford got on the end of Kevin Watson?s corner but sent his headed shot narrowly wide, and minutes later the visitors were denied by Bayes.

Play then switched back to the other end and Knightley almost got a second having kept two defenders at bay, but his low shot from the by-line was just inches wide of the back post.

Just after the half an hour mark Battersby, who had sustained an injury when diving to meet a cross from no.8 (trialist) was replaced by Dennis Oli.

As the half drew to a close both sides had good chances ? West and Oli shooting wide for Blues and for Colchester Halford and Danns were both thwarted by Bayes, and Richard Evans blasted over the bar from close range.

With the exception of substitute Oli Mark Stimson fielded a completely different eleven for the second period. Eyre replaced Bayes in goal, and regulars Brennan and Bruce were joined by eight trialists - Jamie Slabber, Simon Downer, Cam, Hector, Dean Allen and Sam Wright amongst them. Colchester only made one change to their line-up replacing Hunt with
John White.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half was even with few chances for either side as most of the action was taking place in the middle of the park, and in the 60th minute Colchester made a double substitution bringing on Jamie Guy and Jason Norville for Ramon Calliste and Richard Evans.

On sixty-three minutes Hector played a lovely ball into the path of Cam, but the Grays trialist was denied by Gerken.

After a bit of concerted pressure Colchester equalized. Halford got on the end of Sam Stockley?s throw-in, returned the ball to Stockley who in turn crossed to Neil Danns. The twenty-two year old midfielder then powerfully headed the ball past Eyre.

Now that the game could go either team?s way play became a little scrappy and a tad tense ? as such a minor spat occurred.

With nine minutes to go, Grays restored their lead. Oli under the kosh from several United players kept remarkably cool, pulled the ball back to one of the trialists who crossed to ex-Spurs player Jamie Slabber (trialist) who poked it home.

From then on in Colchester never looked like they were going to find an equalizer, and both United Manager Phil Parkinson and experienced midfielder Kevin Watson have since praised Grays? players for their attitude and commitment shown during the game.

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