Halifax Town 0 Grays Athletic 2
Sat, August 19, 2006. Kick off: 3:00 PM
Match Report by Martin Candler
Grays continued their encouraging start to the season with a well-merited victory at the Shay Stadium. First half goals from Aaron McLean and Michael Kightly secured the points against a side they had never previously beaten and exacted a sweet revenge for their Conference play-off semi-final defeat last season.
The Blues signalled their attacking intentions after just 30 seconds when the industrious Glenn Poole tested home custodian, Craig Mawson with a long range effort. Then in the 17th minute, Johnny Martin was brought down 30 yards out by Martin Foster and Kightly‘s free-kick was headed home by Aaron McLean. Halifax responded well and Lewis Killeen, put in by Shane Smeltz had a shot pushed round the post by the alert Ashley Bayes.
Grays‘s renowned counter-attacking style was in evidence in the 42nd minute when the improving mid-fielder, Ashley Nicholls, cleared the ball out to the right where McLean‘s pace beat Adam Quinn‘s despairing tackle and the Grays man ran on to unselfishly set up Kightly, who duly obliged with a cool finish to double the visitor‘s lead.
The second half saw Halifax huff and puff but the Blues showed a greater cohesion and more potent goal threat. Referee MrEvans rightly waved away penalty claims by Halifax involving Andy Sambrook and Adam Green but it was Grays who had the best chance to score late on when Nicholls crossed for sub, Dennis Oli to head straight at Mawson from six yards.
After the game, Frank Gray said “We have now beaten two of the sides expected to be up there this season in Rushden & Diamonds and Halifax. We came to do a job and did it. We have players with pace and when teams fall for that all well and good.”
Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Stuart, Smith, Green, Kightly, Nicholls, Martin, Poole, McLean (Slabber 87), Boylan (Oli 64).
Subs Not Used: Knowles, Williamson, Moulds.
Booked: Poole, Sambrook.
Goals: McLean (17), Kightly (42)
Attn: 1589
Ref: K Evans (Lancashire).
Fans Man of the Match: Nicholls
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