Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

On a bitterly cold night at Dagenham?s Victoria Road ground Grays recorded a famous victory against their old adversaries in a thrilling encounter. With Dennis Oli getting the nod over Gary Hooper the Blues began the match bristling with commitment and it soon became clear that they were not going to relinquish their hold on the Trophy easily. Hitherto squad players, Ade Olayinka (again nullifying the threat of Daggers? playmaker Sam Saunders in open play), Glenn Poole and Cameron Mawer, all performed heroically to support more established players in what was a truly magnificent team performance, delivering a stinging riposte to some recent negative vocal and on-line comments from a few whingeing home supporters.

Whenever possible Grays played their sweet passing game and in Oli and Aaron McLean they had willing outlets but it was Michael Kightly who did most to prise open the hosts? defence with his penetrating runs down the right. After McLean was just wide with a flashing volley, skipper Stuart Thurgood opened the scoring within the 23rd minute with a free kick that seemed to deceive the Daggers keeper, 36 year-old Tony Roberts on its way into the goal. Eleven minutes later a surging run and cross by Kightly was initially blocked by Shane Blackett but the alert Oli pounced to fire past Roberts. Dagenham were by no means over-run in this period and Ashley Bayes made a good one-handed save to deny Chris Moore. In the 36th minute Bayes and Mawer both left a ball that seemed to be running out of play but Craig Mackail-Smith, refusing to give up the chase, somehow managed to flick the ball over the line from an acute angle. Bayes was then beaten by a Tim Cole shot from close in but the linesman disallowed the effort for off- side.

In the second half the referee turned down Grays appeals for a penalty when Glenn Poole appeared to be fouled but he was not to be denied. In the 52nd minute a lightning counter-attack saw Oli ride a fierce tackle to set Kightly free; he tore down the wing and crossed for Poole to smash the ball past the helpless Roberts. Still Dagenham refused to lie down and, in the 57th minute, Saunders, whose dead-ball kicks were a constant menace, struck a 30- yard free-kick past Bayes to keep the home side in the tie.

Back came Grays with some flowing attacks and in the 68th minute defensive lion-heart Jamie Stuart was an unlikely scorer as he chested the ball down on the edge of the area and crashed in an unstoppable volley to restore Grays? two goal advantage and send the delirious Grays fans home with a two-legged semi-final against Exeter to look forward to and savour. This was a magnificent match in which it must be said that Dagenham played their part but Grays were just too good on the night.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Nutter, Stuart, Thurgood, Oli (Slabber 90), McLean, Kightly, Olayinka, Mawer, Poole (Martin 89), Hanson
Subs not used: Hooper, Williamson, Eyre

Goalscorers: Thurgood(23), Oli(34), Poole(52), Stuart(68)

Ref: Mr D Cann

Attn: 1526

Fans Man of the Match: Kightly

Hey, Get your own shirt!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

I'm the winner!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Bit higher, I still can't see!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Where's the ball gone???
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Poole, Kights, You've been pimped!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Even Superman couldn't stop those 4 goals!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Only one way through!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

#
Right, lets get this right, it's put your left leg in, left leg out!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Who? Me?
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

What's the score again??
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

He's just a one mand band!!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Oh No, not "do do do" again!!
Photo: ? Rob Vallance

Forthcoming fixtures