Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler.

Grays were made to work hard for their victory against a determined Cray Wanderers side. Goals from Aaron McLean (his first of the season) and Michael Kightly were sufficient to take the Blues into a mighty clash with York City in the next round.
Cray?s stubbornness was typified by their goalie, Steve Northwood, who produced a string of fine saves, to continually frustrate Grays. Not that Cray were entirely defensive. A miss-hit shot by Jamie Wood set up Jamie Kempster who shot straight at home custodian, Nicky Eyre. Then Eyre earned his stripes with a terrific save to his left to deny Leigh Bremner, after a slip by Jamie Stuart.
At the other end, a Dennis Oli header was hacked off the line by Dean Morris. However the deadlock was broken in the 25th minute, when from a dipping free kick by skipper Stuart Thurgood, Oli?s flicked header was met with an emphatic volley by McLean. Glenn Poole then had two headers at the back post in quick succession but could not hit the target. The ever-improving Jamie Slabber directed a header just wide after a terrific run and cross from the right by McLean. Cray?s barrel-chested central defender, Danny Bower then denied the Blues with two goal-line clearances which demonstrated that the Wanderers were not going to roll over against the Conference leaders. In yet another attack the ball rebounded from the post and rolled along the line with, amazingly, no-one finding a scoring touch before it was somehow hacked clear.
In the second half, Grays continued to pour forward in their now-trademark measured and inventive style and Northwood made stunning saves from Poole, Slabber and Stuart. A header from Stuart hit the post and Slabber?s follow-up shot was kept out by Northwood.
Grays, with only a single goal lead, showed a little edginess in defence, and ex- Blue, the 41 year-old Gary Abbott coming on as sub, contrived a gentle back header which bounced off the top of the bar. Then a long punt by keeper Northwood seemed to catch the Grays rearguard off balance and Eyre charging out of his goal to recover the situation only succeeded in presenting an opportunity to Abbott who fired wastefully wide. Grays, however, kept up their onslaught at the other end and the pressure eventually told in the 89th minute. A clever pass by Thurgood down the line was crossed first time by Oli for sub Gary Hooper?s fine header to draw another wonderful save from Northwood. This time fellow sub Michael Kightly was on hand to smash the ball home to finally put the game beyond Cray Wanderers.
After the game, Cray?s manager, Ian Jenkins, said he was proud of his team?s display against such a good side and was looking to carry this form into their League campaign. Mark Stimson said? Their keeper was man of the match by a mile. We kept asking questions and it looked at one point that he would have all the answers. But as we have done all season, we kept going and we are happy to be through.?

Scorers:
McLean 25
Kightly 88

Attendance:
1316

Fans Man of the Match:
Aaron McLean

Stevland Angus winning the ball
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Dennis Oli, I believe I can fly
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Michael Kightly gunning for goal
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Michael Kightly celebrates the winning goal
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Forthcoming fixtures