Grays Athletic 0 Plymouth Argyle 3 (Pre Season Friendly)
Sat, July 15, 2006. Kick off: 3:00 PM
Match Report by Martin Candler
As a means of shaking off the rustiness of the close season this was a useful exercise, as a spectacle it was a bit turgid. Plymouth are a Championship outfit and it showed as they knocked the ball about in pleasing manner on a hot sunny afternoon at the New Rec. A hat-trick from ex-Everton striker, Nick Chadwick, sealed Grays’ fate and despite an improved showing in the second half from the Blues, the Pilgrims fully deserved their victory. The presence of new signing, Lee Boylan, in the Grays starting line-up gave the home supporters a lift and once Lee gains full fitness, they hope his proven abilities as a goal-scorer at this level could prove decisive in the season ahead.
The first goal came in the 18th minute when a whipped-in free-kick by Wotton was anticipated well by Chadwick whose header gave Ashley Bayes no chance. In the 27th minute a Djorjic corner kick was met with a meaty header by Nalis. Bayes somehow kept the ball out but Chadwick was first to react and netted his second goal. His hat-trick strike came in the 37th minute when a curling cross by Wotton looked to be going out but Connelly headed across goal for Chadwick to convert with ease. On the stroke of half-time, Bayes pulled off a marvelous save from point-blank range to deny Reuben Reid.
Multiple substitutions by both sides did nothing to help the flow of the game but the introduction of Michael Kightly gave Grays a goal threat down the right.
After the game Plymouth’s new manager, Ian Holloway said “I would like to congratulate the Grays chairman and the club for making such huge strides in the recent past and feel sure the team will do well this season” Frank Gray said “Plymouth are a good side but in open play I thought we did well, particularly as we tried a different system. We conceded at set pieces, something I feel we can certainly put right on the training ground. We have four weeks to go to the first league game, so friendly games are the right time to experiment and give triallists a chance.”
Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Stuart, Thurgood, Skelton, Boylan, McLean, Sestanovich, Poole, Smith, Canham.
Plymouth Argyle: Clapham, Barness, Kouo Doumbe, Sawyer, Capaldi, Connelly, Wooton, Nalis, Djordjic, Chadwick, Reid.
Att: 789
Official Match Pictures
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