Grays Athletic 1 Canvey Island 2 (Home)
Tue, December 27, 2005. Kick off: 1:00 PM
Match report by Martin Candler
Blues boss, Mark Stimson, was hoping to celebrate his 38th birthday with a victory over local rivals, Canvey Island, but the visitors deservedly took the spoils with a solid, counter- attacking display. In front of a bumper holiday crowd, Grays looked a little lethargic at times and the home defence looked vulnerable throughout the afternoon. Early on, Dennis Oli engineered openings for both Jamie Slabber and Glenn Poole but neither could provide a scoring finish. Canvey also had chances when the 19 year-old Jason Hallet, twice, and Dwain Clarke both missed good opportunities when well-placed. Hallett was not to be denied, for in the 41st minute, he took advantage of indecision between Jamie Stuart and Lee Matthews to run on and power a shot past home custodian Nicky Eyres, who had previously performed wonders to deny the visitors.
But Grays almost leveled before the break when Oli wriggled free and saw his goal attempt blocked by the feet of Canvey?s keeper, Danny Potter; following up, neither Slabber or Michael Kightly could quite manage to convert the loose ball Soon after, Oli and Slabber were denied, but the Blues began to get their passing game together and in the 64th minute a sweet move saw Kightly, cleverly put in by Oli, drill the ball across goal for Johnny Martin to touch home. At last the home supporters had something to cheer and Canvey visibly began to tire. Another clever feed by Oli was somehow poked wide by Slabber, a miss that was to prove costly. For, in the 81st minute, after Canvey had repulsed Grays? best attacks, skipper Jeff Minton applied the killer touch to a counter- attack which, in all honesty, should have been cleared some time before by a hesitant Blues defense.
Grays will rue those missed chances but the visitors had an effective game plan and justified Manager Jeff King?s claim that his Canvey side is better than their league position would suggest.
Grays: Eyre, Bruce, Stuart, Matthews, Nutter, Kightly (Hooper 65), Thurgood, Martin, Poole, Slabber, Oli.
Subs Not Used: Bayes, Williamson, Olayinka, Mawer.
Goalscorer: Martin (64)
Booked: Matthews.
Att: 2,910
Ref: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire)
Fans man of the Match: Martin
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk
Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk
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