Matches

MATCH REPORT VS KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS (HOME) by Carol Smith-Allen

Grays? ?never say die? attitude paid dividends yet again on Saturday, this time against a Kidderminster Harriers side who this time last year were playing in the football league. A late equalizer from substitute Bertie Brayley ensured that Blues maintained their unbeaten start in the Conference National and that their fans left the New Rec happy. All in all it was an entertaining and at times nail biting encounter.

Mark Stimson made three changes to the line-up that had started against Aldershot on Bank Holiday Monday, with Joe Bruce and Gary Hooper in for Stevland Angus and Aaron McLean and Dennis Oli returning from injury replacing Dean Brennan. His opposite number Stuart Watkiss made a couple of changes to his team, with Gareth Sheldon in place of Simon Russell and Wayne Graves making his first start of the season at the expense of Laurie Wilson.

Kidderminster began the brighter of the two sides and within minutes Bayes was in action tipping away a cross/shot from Sheldon, and Taiwo Atieno on-loan from Walsall saw his shot blocked by Cameron Mawer.

Grays soon found their feet and their first real opportunity came in the 12th minute but Hooper was denied by Kidderminster keeper John Danby, following excellent approach work by Mawer, Battersby and Martin. Oli, having given his marker the slip was then thwarted by Danby.

Shortly afterwards, Atieno renowned for his headed goals had a great chance to notch up yet another one when he got on the end of Wayne Hatswell?s precision cross ? all that stood in his way was Bayes and that?s exactly what he did. The bubbly Grays keeper produced a brilliant fingertip save pushing the ball over the bar for a corner.

Both Joe Bruce and Terry Fleming were then shown yellow cards, the former for a challenge and the latter for dissent.

Around the half an hour mark Blues really began to take control of proceedings, and as the clock ticked down John Martin sent a header just over the bar, and both Hooper and Stuart Thurgood were denied by Danby.

As Grays took to the pitch for the second half the young Blues fans at their noisiest best during the first period resumed their singing and chanting, but within minutes of the restart they stood in stunned silence. A deep cross from Sheldon was met by the prominent Atieno who then knocked the ball to the waiting Iyseden Christie and the striker wasted no time in firing home.

The Blues fans showing the same resolve as their hero?s quickly sought to encourage them by once again bursting into song and raising the volume to boot. It took only five minutes for Grays to reciprocate by drawing level. A long ball from John Nutter caught the Kidderminster defence dawdling as they believed offside would be given allowing Battersby to race into the penalty area, and with Danby committed he cleverly squared the ball to Hooper who promptly poked the ball into the back of the net.

Undeterred Harriers tried to restore their lead, and Captain Mark Jackson collected the rebound after Atieno?s shot had been blocked by Jamie Stuart, but blasted over the bar.

Six minutes later though the visitors did reclaim the lead and the goal had a slight touch of d骠 vu about it. A throw in by Sheldon was won by Atieno at the near post who then flicked the ball onto the unmarked Christie leaving the striker the simple task of slotting it past Bayes.

Kidderminster then made their first substitution replacing Wayne Graves with Simon Russell, and shortly afterwards Grays made a double substitution; Bertie Brayley coming on at the expense of Glenn Poole and Aaron McLean replacing the limping Battersby.

With fourteen minutes of normal time left on the clock the opposition had a golden opportunity to increase their lead. This time Christie turned provider setting up Atieno, but despite being one on one with Bayes the striker screwed his low drive narrowly wide, and then was justifiably booked for kicking the ball which had bounced back off the advertising boards into the empty net.

From this moment onwards the balance of play changed considerably; whereas it had been relatively even for the majority of the half Grays now began to dominate.

In the 80th minute Blues came agonizingly close when Hooper got on the end of a long cross from Brayley but his headed shot hit the upright.

Substitute Russell then came close for Harriers but was foiled by Bayes who made a great save, and at the other end McLean had an even better opportunity when one on one with Danby, having been put through by Stuart Thurgood but the forward sent his close range shot over the bar. It looked as if Blues were going to rue this missed chance, and suffer their first defeat at home in almost a year.

The fourth official signalled that there would be five minutes time added on for stoppages, and the atmosphere within the home section of the ground was tense to say the very least.

With nothing now to lose Grays surged forward, and Cameron Mawer saw his cross/shot parried by Danby. Blues were then awarded a free kick taken by Bruce, from which they forced a corner. As substitute Brayley got into position to take the dead ball kick, the tension grew as did the noise from the Grays fans, and then it happened!! Brayley?s in-swinging corner heading for the top right-hand corner of the net appeared to have been caught in the air by Danby but he lost his grasp and the ball fell into the back of the net. The home end of the ground absolutely erupted ? ecstatic scenes abound.

Whilst Grays fans and players celebrated, Harriers supporters and players were understandably subdued none more so than Danby who was clearly distraught.

Supporters Man Of The Match:- Gary Hooper

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