Matches

MATCH REPORT VS WELLING UNITED by Carol Smith-Allen

As many fans will remember when Grays played Welling at Park View Road last season it was a close affair, with the hosts feeling a little hard done by as Blues took all three points courtesy of two great goals from the recently departed Mitchell Cole when perhaps a draw would have been a fairer result. However, there was no injustice about yesterday?s outcome as Grays? work rate and desire were exemplary, and they treated the travelling fans who had managed to get across the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge to a feast of wonderful goals.

First half play was lively and for the most end to end with both sides playing the passing game ? there was no hoof it and hope in this match!!

Within minutes of the start both sides had chances; Aaron McLean surged into the box but was denied by Wings Keeper Jamie Turner, and for Welling James Pinnock squandered a great opportunity. Having rounded Eyre the ex-Gravesend player hesitated thereby giving the Blues defence time to clear.

Wings were to rue this wasted chance when ten minutes later Dennis Oli despatched a powerful twenty yard strike past Turner into the back of the net.

For the remainder of the first period, with the exception of a close range shot from Pinnock that Eyre did well to keep out, it was virtually all one way traffic. New acquisition Michael Kightly when one on one with Turner directed his low drive just a tad too close to the keeper enabling him to palm the ball away. Undeterred Kightly collected the lose ball but Turner parried the winger?s close range shot, and by the time recent signing Glenn Poole got to the rebound the Wings defence/midfield were back in force ready to clear.

McLean was then twice denied by Turner, and having received a lovely through ball from Kightly Oli saw his shot blocked. However, in the 42nd minute Blues? pressure paid dividends when Stuart Thurgood?s fierce twenty yard strike slammed against the back of the net despite Turner getting a hand to it.

Grays, with the same eleven players on the pitch who had taken part in the first half, started the second period in exactly the same vein as they had finished the first ? on the offensive.

With just four minutes played Blues had increased their lead. Good interplay from McLean and Kightly set up Poole and the midfielder headed home from close range.

Then two minutes later McLean looked to have got on the score sheet himself but the goal was disallowed for offside. It was only a matter of time though, and in the 56th minute the striker got the goal he had been striving so hard for. Trialist Andy Sambrook powered forward laid the ball off to McLean, who turned his marker and smashed the ball high into the roof of the net ? a great goal!

When Welling were probably hoping it wouldn?t get any worse it did ? within a minute of his first goal McLean had got Blues fifth and his second. Turner came off his line and managed to parry Oli?s powerful shot, but McLean was on hand to slot the ball into the unguarded net.

On fifty-nine minutes Mark Stimson made a triple substitution bringing on trialists Jamie Slabber, Ahmed Dean and Sam Wright.

Welling tried to get back into the game but on sixty-six minutes and just seven minutes after he entered the field of play Jamie Slabber dealt the already deflated wings a crushing blow. The trialist, out wide on the flank delivered a high shot into the roof of the net ? another tremendous goal.

Grays continued to dominate, and in perhaps an attempt to salvage something from the game Welling made a triple substitution. However, three minutes later Blues extended their lead further. Oli just to the left of goal poked the ball into the bottom left-hand corner for Blues seventh. Almost immediately Che Stadhardt got a consolation goal for the hosts.

Slabber then came close for Blues but Turner conceded the corner. From the dead ball kick one of the Wings players was adjudged to have handled the ball and the referee pointed to the spot. Oli stepped up to take the penalty kick and calmly slotted the ball right into the bottom left-hand corner, getting his hatrick into the bargain.

Still displaying good poise and control Blues understandably eased their foot off the pedal a little for the last fifteen minutes, and with just under ten minutes remaining made their final substitution replacing Michael Kightly with ex-Canvey lad Tom Williamson.

As the full-time whistle approached both Dean and Oli came close for Blues. Firstly Dean got on the end of a cross from Oli, but at full stretch Turner saved the trialist?s close range shot. Then two minutes later Oli was faced with an open goal but was dispossessed by a defender just as he was about to shoot.

After the game a beaming Mark Stimson said ? We were absolutely fantastic, there have been so many good performances today. To come away scoring the amount of goals that we did, and to see the work rate that the boys put in makes me very pleased.?

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