Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

Grays produced a magnificent second half performance to stun champions-elect Accrington and keep their play-off hopes very much alive. Aaron McLean?s 80th minute winner, scored with his shorts at half-mast round his knees, was a fitting reward for his tireless running and put the Blues into 5th spot in the league with two games in hand of their rivals. On a muddy pitch deemed just playable, both sides found it difficult to play good football in the first half and although Grays had good chunks of possession it was the homesters who grabbed the lead. In the 18th minute, Andy Todd dispossessed John Nutter and Ashley Bayes could only parry his shot into the path of the in-rushing Gary Roberts who emphatically fired home.

In the second half, with Mark DeBolla beginning to link well with McLean, Grays took the game to Accrington. Ace wing raiders Glenn Poole and Michael Kightly stretched the home defence and in a crazy five minutes the match burst into life. In the 58th minute, McLean fed DeBolla and his shot looked to be going in but Glenn Poole made sure by hooking the ball in from three yards out. McLean was again the provider five minutes later, beating Cavanagh and finding the head of Poole with a telling cross to put the Blues ahead. True to his attacking credo, Mark Stimson introduced the creative Johnny Martin to clinch the points. However, Accrington were not finished and in the 65th minute Ian Craney evaded a weak tackle by Andy Sambrook to smash in a blistering shot into the top corner of the net. The same player then saw Bayes acrobatically save his well-struck free-kick. Home custodian, Rob Elliott, despite nursing a damaged knee, did well to deny efforts from Poole and DeBolla as Grays fought for supremacy.

Then in the 80th minute, McLean, fast becoming a Blues legend, won the game; he raced through the home defence and, despite being pulled back by his shorts in desperation, managed to get in a shot, which was initially kept out by Elliott. But Stuart Thurgood, on the edge of the area, played the ball to Kightly whose clever dummy left McLean free to prod the ball home, with his shorts still round his legs! Grays had more chances but, in truth, were more than happy to come away with a famous 3-2 victory. The proud and loud 69 travelling Blues fans were most appreciative of the Accy fans who, at the end of the match, sportingly clapped both them and their heroic team. Our good wishes go to Accrington. Perhaps we might meet them in the league next year!

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Stuart, Hanson, Nutter, Kightly, Thurgood, Olayinka(Bruce 61), Poole, DeBolla(Hooper 76), McLean
Subs not used: Eyre, Martin, Williamson

Goalscorers: Poole(58,63), McLean(80)

Bookings: Nutter(33), Olayinka(57)

Referee: D Foster

Attn: 2642

Fans man of the Match: Poole

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