Matches

Match report by Martin Candler

For the second time in six days, Canvey emerged with a victory that was deserved but made easier by hapless defending by the Blues. Yet with Stevland Angus back from suspension and Ade Olayinka given his chance over Glenn Poole on the left, Grays began brightly and the improving Michael Kightly, latching on to an underhit back-pass from Canvey’s Chris Duffy, couldn’t quite lift the ball over Danny Potter. He was, however, not to be denied; from the resulting corner. The ball was worked to Stuart Thurgood on the right whose cross was turned in at the far post by the unmarked Kightly.

Grays were now on top and the 450 or so travelling supporters were wondering if this game was to be the one to get their remarkable season back on track. Indeed, Kightly had the ball in the net again but was ruled out for offside by the rather pedantic referee, Mr.G.Ward (Kightly was booked for his trouble). But in the 14th minute Ben Chenery’s quick free-kick caught Angus sleeping and the muscular Jason Hallett raced through and shot past Nicky Eyres to score his second goal against the Blues in a week. This strike steadied Canvey and the game was more even with Kightly and Mario Noto both missing chances.

In the second half, a mad five minutes saw sub Dennis Oli slice horribly wide, Jamie Stuart see red, and Dwaine Clarke score the winner. Oli, played through by Johnny Martin, failed to trouble Potter with a wild shot. Then, Hallett shook off two rather feeble challenges from Stuart and Sambrook and shot just over the bar; John Nutter remonstrated with Stuart who aggressively shoved him away (Stimmo was adamant that no punch was thrown) and Mr.Ward showed Stuart the red card. To make matters worse, in the 63rd minute, Clarke, racing on to a flick by Hallett, easily out-muscled and out-paced sub, Joe Bruce to fire home what proved to be the winner.

The Blues brought on Gary Hooper for Olayinka but, in truth, their passing was ragged and most attempts to play the long ball were easily dealt with by the big home defenders. Jamie Stuart is now suspended for another four weeks to add to his three- week ban before Christmas. Although others in the squad have been guilty of picking up cheap bans and as much as Blues fans love Jamie’s 100% commitment to the cause, many feel that his lack of self-discipline on both occasions has cost the club dearly at a difficult time in the season. Perhaps, as a senior player, he should accept that walking away from trouble in no way diminishes the respect he has earned in his time at Grays Athletic.

Grays Athletic: Eyre, Sambrook, Stuart, Nutter, Kightly (Bruce 62), Thurgood, Martin, Angus, Battersby (Oli 52), McLean, Olayinka (Hooper 75).
Subs Not Used: Bayes, Slabber

Goalscorer:
M Kightly (3)

Bookings:
M Kightly (9)
A McLean (63)
A Sambrook (79)

Sent off:
J Stuart (60)

Att: 1,445

Ref: G Ward (Kent)

Fans Man of the Match: McLean

Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Photo: ? tgsphoto.co.uk

Forthcoming fixtures