Matches

MATCH REPORT VS GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET by Carol Smith-Allen

What a difference a year makes!! A crowd of 1,562 which included ex-Blues player Mitchell Cole watched Grays well and truly get out of the starting blocks last night by thrashing Gravesend & Northfleet by six goals to one in their first home match in the Conference National ? this time last year 280 fans saw Blues defeat Redbridge FC.

No Grays fan could have asked for more this match had it all; from start to finish it was entertaining and action packed, and as the game progressed it became ever more exciting with the atmosphere inside the floodlight New Rec constantly increasing until it reached its peak at the end of the ninety minutes.

Right from the off the game was lively, and for the most the first half was finely balanced with both sides creating plenty of chances.

Blues first real opportunity came with only six minutes on the clock when Hooper headed narrowly wide from a Glenn Poole free kick given for a foul on Dennis Oli by James Smith. Two minutes later Danny Slatter came close for Fleet but his fierce twenty-five yard volley was parried to safety by Bayes. Whew!

Whilst Gravesend probed through the middle Blues were displaying some exquisite one touch football.

Further chances for Fleet fell to Slatter in the form of a free-kick but the midfielder?s shot flashed just past the upright, and a ten yard strike from Kim Grant also went wide. The visitors came close again when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box for a foul by Stuart Thurgood on Charlie MacDonald, but Jimmy Jackson was denied by Bayes.

For Grays a free kick by Thurgood was deflected for a corner as was one taken by Poole, and then on thirty-two minutes Blues took the lead; Oli flicked the ball onto Gary Hooper who in turn despatched an inch perfect cross to the back post leaving John Martin to fire home.

Fleet immediately looked for a reply and a free kick was given for a foul on Bobby Bowry. After several attempts one of which hit the post the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

As the interval approached Grays doubled their advantage. A lovely through ball from the influential Battersby found Oli, who then ran to the edge of the box and elegantly chipped the ball over Gravesend keeper Aaron Kerr much to the delight of the Blues fans.

Fleet made their first substitution at the start of the second half replacing Bowry with ex-Hammer Manny Omoyinmi whose pace caused Blues some slight problems.

The visitors applied some early pressure, although on fifty-one minutes it was Grays who on the break appeared to have increased their lead, but Glenn Poole?s goal was disallowed for offside.

Then in the 58th minute Fleet did indeed reduce the deficit. A rare error by Bayes gave Charlie MacDonald the opportunity to poke the ball into the unguarded net from close range.

It didn?t take Blues long to respond though, and four minutes later they had restored their cushion. Following a corner that was initially cleared the ball was knocked back into the area and eventually prodded home by John Martin.

Within minutes Fleet almost pulled a goal back but Omoyinmi?s close range header flew just over the crossbar, and on sixty-eight minutes they made their second change bringing on Danny Glozier for Justin Skinner.

However, with the next kick of the ball the opposition were down to ten men when Kerr was given his marching orders for a professional foul on Oli, and rightfully so. John Martin stepped up and converted the spot kick but for some inexplicable reason Referee Mr. McDermid insisted it be retaken. Undeterred the energetic midfielder calmly struck his second attempt into the bottom left-hand corner getting his hat-trick into the bargain. Chants of easy, easy, easy echoed around the New Rec.

Grays continued to dominate with Fleet barely getting a look in, and it was a case of when not if Blues would score again.

With just under fifteen minutes remaining Mark Stimson made a double substitution replacing Battersby and Oli with Jamie Slabber and Michael Kightly, and then shortly afterwards brought on Dean Brennan with Martin making way.

In the final minutes Poole added a fifth when he slid and latched onto a cross from Hooper whilst the Gravesend defence appeared to be having a nap. The hardworking teenager was then unlucky not to get on the score sheet himself when his powerful twenty-five yard strike smashed against the woodwork.

In time added on for stoppages Hooper was again the provider this time for Slabber who smashed the ball high into the roof of the net from ten yards.

After the match Manager Mark Stimson dismissed suggestions that Conference Football is a piece of cake. He said ?It was not easy tonight. It was down to hard work and good movement; there was some fantastic finishing out there but we expect to get in those positions.? He also said ?I was disappointed with the goal but it is hard to fault anyone out there, everyone played well.?

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Matthews, Stuart, Nutter, Hooper, Thurgood, Martin (Brennan 86), Poole, Oli (Slabber 78), Battersby (Kightly 78).
Subs Not Used: Eyre, Bruce.

Booked: Stuart, Slabber.

Goals: Martin 33, Oli 42, Martin 63, 72 pen, Poole 88, Slabber 90.

Gravesend: Kerr, Gooding, Smith, McCarthy, Skinner (Glozier 68), Slatter, Bowry (Omoyinmi 45), Saunders, Jackson, MacDonald, Grant (Mott 70).
Subs Not Used: Surey, Drury.

Sent Off: Kerr (70).

Booked: McCarthy.

Goals: MacDonald 59.

Att: 1,562.

Ref: D McDermid (Hampshire).

Supporters Man Of The Match:- Jamie Stuart

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