Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

Any neutral observer watching this game would find it hard to believe that both sides on view had aspirations for promotion. In a dull encounter, the home side looked thoroughly out of sorts and the visitors seemed to lack attacking ambition. This is illustrated by the fact that apart from the Morecambe goal and Jamie Stuart‘s header that hit the post, not one goal attempt from either side was on target in the whole match.

Both defences had little trouble in shackling their opposing attackers; Morecambe‘s skipper Chris Blackburn being particularly effective for the Shrimpers while Stuart and Djoumin Sangare provided a dominant defensive partnership for the Blues. Going forward; however, Grays lacked any real fluency or penetration, often resorting to launching the ball forward to the ever-willing Aaron McLean, a tactic that Morecambe were more than happy to accommodate by doubling up on him.

Near the end of a rather mundane first half, Morecambe‘s David McNiven reacted angrily to an innocuous challenge by Stuart and grabbed the Grays man by the throat and was fortunate to receive just a yellow card from the referee Mr.D.Ford, who then for some reason which mystified the home faithful, also booked Stuart.

The second half meandered along with, it must be said, Morecambe showing some neat possession football without causing too many alarms in the Grays defence. In the 57th minute, however, their patience paid off when after a 15 pass move a cross by Adam Yates was allowed to reach McNiven. Ashley Bayes seemed to be deceived when McNiven got just a faint touch with his head and could not regain his ground as the ball found its way into the corner of the net.

Soon after, Stuart hit the post with a header from a deep cross by Lee Boylan but this was not to be Grays‘ day. Neither side appeared to have the wit or penetration to bring a somnolent crowd to life and only a Michael Kightly effort and a header from McNiven came close to a score. After the game, Frank Gray, although disappointed, said that he is convinced he has the players at the club to get back to winning ways. Many Blues fans leaving the ground would agree, but feel that it is crucial to get the balance right by defending properly without sacrificing the attacking flair which has carried the club to such great heights in the recent past.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Sangare, Stuart, Green (Slabber 82), Kightly, Oli, Nicholls, Poole (Martin 90), McLean, Boylan
Subs Not Used: Knowles, Williamson, Smith

Booked: Stuart

Att: 1056

Ref: D Ford (Reading)

Fans Man of the Match: Sambrook

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

© Mark Gardner

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