Matches

MATCH REPORT VS CAMBRIDGE UNITED (HOME) by Carol Smith-Allen

A dazzling first half display by Grays against ex-league side Cambridge United was enough to earn them all three points on Tuesday night, and with Exeter City only managing a draw away to Scarborough, Blues are again within spitting distance of the league leaders.

After the disappointing performance against Tamworth at the Lamb Ground on Saturday Mark Stimson had promised that changes would be made and indeed they were with Aaron McLean and Joe Bruce being replaced by Jamie Slabber and ex-U?s defender Stevland Angus, and Nicky Eyre in for Ashley Bayes who was relegated to the bench. These alterations proved to be beneficial especially that of ex-Spurs trainee Slabber who went on to score a hat-trick, and must now have surely silenced his sceptics.

U?s started the brighter and with just three minutes gone came close to opening the scoring, when the giant Fola Onibuje got on the end of Stephen Smith?s long throw but directed his header just wide of the left-hand post.

However, the visitors soon had the wind taken out of their sails as Grays with their first attack of the game took the lead. Gary Hooper knocked the ball into the path of Slabber who then played a quick one two with his strike partner Dennis Oli before slipping the ball past U?s keeper Scott Howie. Great stuff!!

Blues had now settled and were in control, and as such on ten minutes Slabber had the chance to double his tally but stabbed the ball straight at Howie.

Disgruntled U?s fans were ensuring that Manager Rob Newman was aware of their displeasure at their poor start to the season by calling for his resignation, but were temporarily pacified when their side drew level in the 13th minute. Stevland Angus was cautioned after he clipped the heels of Matt Nolan as the striker raced through on goal, and the resultant free-kick was promptly driven past Eyre. U?s fans were incensed as they felt the Grays defender was the last man and should therefore have been given his marching orders, but Referee Mr. Evetts felt that the positioning of Jamie Stuart meant this wasn?t the case.

Moments later Mr. Evetts was brandishing his yellow card again, this time at Dean Brennan and David Bridges for a spat after Slabber had been tripped by the midfielder.

The visitor?s joy was short-lived when in the 23rd minute Grays regained the lead. Howie did well to tip Stuart Thurgood?s twenty-five yard low drive around the post but cancelled this out when he then punched Brennan?s subsequent corner into his own net.

The Grays Captain then came close again but sent his shot inches wide, and for the opposition Hanlon despatched a thirty-five yard free-kick just wide of the upright before Blues increased their lead further. A cross from Glenn Poole out on the left flank was met by Hooper at the far post, the midfielder then headed the ball back across goal to Oli who nodded it back to him, and he duly headed home from close range.

Grays were on a role now and on thirty-eight minutes made it four. The U?s back-line were again caught out and Oli flicked the ball onto Slabber who fired home.

At the break U?s replaced left-back Johnny Harkness with Parys Okai, and despite trailing by three goals they came out in determined fashion. However, within minutes they suffered another set-back perhaps made worse by the fact it was of their own making; Adam Davies hauled Oli down in the box and consequently a penalty was awarded. Thurgood selflessly gave up his position as penalty-taker to Slabber, and the striker drove the ball to the right of Howie gaining his hat-trick into the bargain.

Grays now looked to be home and dry and as a result eased their foot off the pedal, making it easier for U?s who had nothing to lose to apply some pressure.

Onibuje caused a few problems and on fifty-five minutes got on the end of Smith?s corner but headed wide. Then two minutes later the visitors got the goal they had been striving for when from another Smith corner Skipper Mark Peters, head and shoulders above the Grays defence, forcibly planted the ball into the back of the net.

Hanlon then came close to getting his second and U?s third but his header crashed against the upright, and at the other end Poole sent a shot just over the crossbar.

On sixty-four minutes Cambridge replaced the weary Onibuje with Craig Westbarr and shortly afterwards Grays made their first substitution bringing on Ade Olayinka with Brennan making way.

Westcarr wasted no time and Eyre was called into action to deny the former Nottingham Forest striker, and then from a flick-on by Nolan he directed his header just wide of the post.

With fifteen minutes remaining Grays made another change bringing on Michael Kightly for Hooper, and then U?s replaced Nolan with Paul Atkins who just back from injury was chomping at the bit.

In the 81st minute the visitors again reduced the deficit when Hanlon, who seconds before had seen a long-range effort go just wide, fired home from twenty-five yards to make it 5-3.

In the closing stages both sides had chances, but although U?s had launched a spirited fight-back in the second half ultimately Blues had done enough in the first to secure all three points.

After the match Manager Mark Stimson commented ?Slabber ? what can you say, he?s come in and shown just what he can do. There were some great finishes there; he?s looking fit and if he can get three or four games under his belt then he?s going to be a real handful.?

?The first half display was as good a performance as we?ve had all season; we zipped the ball around and showed some great movement. I felt that when we scored the fifth a few of the boys eased off just a little bit which is natural and let them back into it, but as long as you get those three points you should be happy.?

Dennis Oli teases the Cambridge defence
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Jamie Stuart threatens to open the scoring
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Stuart is felled by a Cambridge player
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

A midfield mixup
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Man of the Match Jamie Slabber in action
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Gary Hooper slides in at the far post
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Slabber goes through on goal...
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

...and Slabber scores
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Grays captain Stuart Thurgood in an aerial battle
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Jamie Slabber picks his spot to slot home his hat-trick penalty...
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

...and celebrates in style
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Match Stats

Grays Athletic: Eyre, Nutter, Stuart, Angus, Mawer, Poole, Brennan (Olayinka 70), Thurgood, Hooper (Kightly 76), Oli, Slabber.
Subs Not Used: Bayes, Matthews, Brayley.

Booked: Angus, Brennan.

Goals: Slabber 7, Howie 25 og, Hooper 35, Slabber 39, 48 pen.

Cambridge Utd: Howie, Harkness (Okai 45), Davies, Peters, Gleeson, Pitt, Smith, Bridges, Hanlon, Nolan (Atkins 79), Onibuje (Westcarr 64).
Subs Not Used: Robbins, Angel.

Booked: Bridges.

Goals: Hanlon 13, Peters 58, Hanlon 82.

Att: 1,543

Ref: G Evetts (Hertfordshire).

Forthcoming fixtures