Matches

MATCH REPORT VS EAST THURROCK by Carol Smith-Allen

No-one would realistically expect a friendly to match a league or cup match for excitement or action, but the first half in particular was rather dull.

With only five minutes gone Grays, whose starting line-up included Bayes, Stuart, Bruce, Nutter, Thurgood, Brennan, Battersby and McClean along with three trialists were gifted the lead. Two East Thurrock defenders went for the ball causing it to bounce off both of them and then roll past the keeper, who was off his line into the open goal (bit of a howler really!) Ex-Grays player Vinnie John was credited with the own goal.

Four minutes later Grays came close to increasing their lead when the no. 11 (trialist) played a lovely ball to Brennan, but the midfielder?s low drive went narrowly wide.

East Thurrock?s keeper was repeatedly resorting to a long punt up field in the hope that their strapping no. 11 would get on the end of it. In fact all their players were above average height, but as a result some of them appeared rather cumbersome.

On nineteen minutes Battersby, who had been ?working his socks off? had a golden opportunity for Blues; the ball was pulled back to him, but from fifteen yards out he screwed his shot well wide.

Moments later it was the turn of McClean. Having left the opposition?s no. 9 for dead he shot, but the angle was acute and the ball hit the side netting ? the East Thurrock keeper blocked the shot anyway.

Just before the half an hour mark, the home side seemed to get a burst of life and had their first shot at goal, although the ball went well and truly over the bar. Minutes later their no. 8 made a blistering run down the left flank, but his pass into the near post was easily cleared by Bruce.

Blues then forced a couple of corners before a twenty-five yard chip by Brennan went just over the crossbar.

Well that was the end of the Grays lads in white (well the kit was almost white) now it was the turn of the navy/gold crew as both teams fielded a completely different eleven for the second half.

For Blues it was Eyre, Martin, Robinson, Olayinka, Oli, Powell and West along with four trialists. It must be noted that ex-Grays players Danny Hazledene and Sammy Cooper were now on display for East Thurrock.

With the home side?s eleven now looking considerably younger the second period was played at a much faster pace. With no real pattern of play East Thurrock seemed determined to close Blues down quickly, and at times it looked like both sides (Grays more so) were playing pass the hot potato!!

Nicholas Eyre in goal for Blues was rarely tested, whereas his counterpart was quite busy in comparison.

On fifty-nine minutes a shot from East Thurrock?s no. 9 from out wide was easily caught by Eyre, and at the other end Oli was unlucky when his powerful twenty yard strike from out on the flank somehow ended up just behind the goal.

East Thurrock?s no. 18 then saw his fierce close range shot saved by Eyre?s feet, and then two minutes later Oli was pulled down in the box and the referee did not hesitate in awarding a penalty. John Martin stepped up to take the spot kick but the East Thurrock keeper read it correctly and dived to his left palming the ball to safety - an excellent stop by the keeper.

Shortly afterwards Oli played a good ball into Powell, but the striker could not get his head on the end of it, and as a result did ?the dying swan act? in the box! Moments later Oli himself missed a sitter, directing his fifteen yard strike straight at the keeper who was off his line.

East Thurrock saw the ball skim across the goal face with no-one able to get on the end of it, and then with two minutes remaining had a good chance to equalize but their no. 6 shot just wide from ten yards out.

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