Matches

MATCH REPORT VS LEYTON ORIENT (FRIENDLY) by Carol Smith-Allen

A very respectable seven hundred fans turned out on a dull and rainy evening that could so easily have been mistaken for October rather than July to watch Grays play League Two side Leyton Orient, and the O?s proved to be the most difficult opposition Blues have faced to date in their pre-season campaign. Orient an organized and agile side deserved their win having had the upper hand for long periods of the game, but it could have been a different story had Blues finishing been more precise.

The starting line-up was similar to the one that had played at Park View Road on Saturday but Bayes, West and Battersby now featured as opposed to Eyre, Matthews and Oli.

Grays began well and could have taken an early lead when with only six minutes played former Orient striker Aaron McLean surged down the right flank only to see his shot from an acute angle crash against the near post.

For the next quarter of an hour play was relatively even with neither side creating any real chances. However, that all changed in the 23rd minute when Orient opened the scoring courtesy of a wonderful looping header by Michael Simpson who had got on the end of Wayne Carlisle?s pinpoint cross.

This goal seemed to inspire O?s and they dominated for the remainder of the half. On two occasions the visitors came close to doubling their advantage. Firstly when Gary Alexander?s header was deflected out of play for a corner, and secondly when Joe Dolan blasted over the bar when well placed. As the interval approached Blues found themselves under the cosh a little as O?s forced a succession of corners.

Grays made a triple substitution at the start of the second half bringing on Lee Matthews, Gary Hooper, and Dennis Oli, and for the first fifteen minutes of the second period they showed renewed momentum.

In the 57th minute Blues came close to getting an equalizer when Glenn Poole unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, having been set up by Oli, but O?s keeper Glenn Morris made a superb save.

Orient then applied some pressure but Bayes at full stretch tipped the ball out of play for a corner. Undeterred the opposition continued to push forward and just after the hour mark increased their lead; Lee Steele playing a clever shimmy to then slot the ball past Bayes from ten yards.

Four minutes later Blues made a double substitution replacing Poole and Sambrook with Joe Bruce and trialist Ahmed Dean, and then shortly afterwards brought on Ade Olayinka with John Nutter making way.

Although O?s had slightly more of the possession and effectively caught Grays offside several times Blues still created some chances the best of which came on eighty minutes. Good interplay by Hooper and McLean set up Oli but the striker?s low shot went just inches wide of the right hand post.

After the match Manager Mark Stimson said ?I thought it was a very good match and competitive. With a little bit of luck we could have possibly had two or three goals but it wasn?t to be. Overall I am very pleased with the performance.?

Leyton Orient Manager Martin Ling was also content saying ?It was a pleasing performance, nice and steady. It wasn?t spot on and no-one was outstanding, but it was pretty good for pre-season and I?m happy with it.?

Grays Starting Line-Up: Bayes, West, Stuart, Sambrook, Nutter, Thurgood, Martin, Kightly, Poole, Battersby, McLean

Forthcoming fixtures