Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

In a see-saw match full of incident, the Blues gained a well merited point against high-flying York City at the Kit-Kat Stadium. Considering that York fielded eight players of the starting eleven when these two teams met at the New Rec last month and Grays, through departures and injuries, a mere four, it was no wonder that the Blues were slow to get into the match. However, in his brief time as manager, Justin Edinburgh has already brought a tenacity and spirit to the team and it showed on Saturday as Grays weathered a torrid opening and nearly snatched an unlikely victory at the end when Johnny Martin‘s header five minutes into injury time rattled the York post and rebounded to safety.

The opening 20 minutes saw York tear into Grays and took the lead as early as the 5th minute when from a cross by Anthony Lloyd, Craig Farrell headed on to Stave Bowey who gave the excellent Danny Knowles no chance with a firm shot. York‘s dour manager said after the game that this opening passage of play produced the best football played under his stewardship. Certainly Grays were under the cosh and Bowey and Farrell both went close but the visitors received a life-line when York skipper Emmanuel Panther tripped Ashley Nicholls in the area and referee Mr.Varley pointed to the spot (a rare piece of good judgement by a referee who seemed unable for most of the game to distinguish what was a fair challenge and what was a foul!). After a delay, caused more by gamesmanship than a genuine grievance on York‘s part, the waiting Glenn Poole finally stepped up to the ball but agonisingly for the Grays camp shot wildly over the bar. Worse was to follow three minutes later when defender David McGurk capitalised on a weak Gavin Cowan clearance to smash the ball home.

Still Grays refused to buckle and in the 15th minute Poole compensated somewhat for his penalty miss by scoring from a free-kick on the edge of the area to stun the crowing York supporters. Grays were now competing for every ball and began to push the home side back but 7minutes from the interval a fantastic save by Knowles from a meaty header from David McGurk was perhaps the turning point in the game.

The second half as Grays grew in confidence so York appeared to waver and their home support seemed quick to criticise when a few passes went astray. Midfielders Poole, Nicholls and Ben Harding (playing further forward than usual) harried their opponents all over the heavy pitch but it was the wee man Martin who was involved in the most crucial incidents of an eventful half. First, he robbed the hesitant McMahon of possession, quickly feeding Harding who charged into the area and whacked the ball past Tom Evans to give Grays the equaliser. With Grays now in the ascendant, a penetrating run by Martin was ended with an untidy challenge which on another day would have earned a penalty. Finally in the dying embers of an exciting game he launched himself at a Nicholls cross only to see the ball crash against the post.

A fine, battling performance then by a Grays team missing several key players. However, Justin Edinburgh must have been pleased with the commitment and never-say-die attitude of his team which stormed back to earn a point in a match that looked a lost cause early on.

Grays Athletic: Knowles, Sambrook, Stuart, Cowan (Smith 52), El Kholti, Martin, Nicholls, Harding, Poole, O'Connor (Turner 78), Bodkin (Mawer 51)
Subs Not Used: Bayes, Williamson

Booked: Sambrook, Poole, Mawer

Goals: Poole(15), Harding(77)

Att: 2689

Ref: P Varley (West Yorkshire)

Joint Fans Man of The Match: Smith, Nicholls

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