Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

Having already lost StuartThurgood(back),Aaron McLean(suspended),and Brett Johnson(illness), Mark Stimson was dealt another blow when Dennis Oli had to pull out just a few hours before the kick-off, succumbing to the mystery bug running through the Grays camp. In addition, although Christian Hanson and Tom Williamson started the game they had to be replaced in the 53rd minute having both been sick at half-time. So it was to their credit that the Blues held out until the 89th minute when their stubborn resistance was broken by a stunning volley by John Grant which flew into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

John Nutter was alert early on when he blocked a Dean Howell effort but it was Grays who opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Andy Sambrook?s free-kick found Gary Hooper whose cross was swept in by skipper Jamie Stuart past the despairing Jon Kennedy.

On a difficult pitch, which is also played on by the town?s rugby league team, the Shaymen began to press and in the 22nd minute ex-Scarborough mid-fielder Tyrone Thompson capitalized on some indecision in the Grays ranks to surge through and shoot past Ashley Bayes to level the scores. Grant and Stuart both had headers cleared off the line and the forced introduction of Cam Mawer and Andy Edwards early in the second half did not appear to dampen the Blues? spirits, led by the outstanding Jamie Stuart.

Halifax increased the tempo as the second half progressed and Grays found it hard to gain any foothold in the game and Grant should have scored when put in by Thompson but shot straight at Bayes. The Grays custodian was then rescued by a desperate hack clear by Stuart after he flapped at a cross. But it was Grant who finally won the match in the last minute when he gleefully finished off a great cross by sub Lewis Killeen. In truth, Grays fans could have no complaints about the result as the hosts showed just why they are challenging for a play-off spot. One issue that did upset the travelling supporters was the weak stewarding that allowed two Halifax supporters to enter the away end and for some minutes physically and verbally abuse some of the Grays fans; to their credit our fans did not react but were amazed to see the two idiots escorted back, past the dug-outs, to the home section without any action taken! A pity, because otherwise Grays were well-received by their Halifax hosts who were probably embarrassed by the whole incident.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Stuart, Hanson (Edwards 53), Kightly, Nutter, Williamson (Mawer 53), Martin, Poole, Battersby (Slabber 75), Hooper.
Subs Not Used: Eyre, Stimson.

Booked: Nutter (65)

Goalscorer: Stuart (11)

Att: 1666.

Ref: S Proctor-Green (Lincolnshire)

Fans man of the match: Stuart

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