Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

Grays came away empty-handed from the Pirelli Stadium after another frustrating away game in which late in the match Anthony Tonkin was red-carded and Justin Edinburgh sent to the stands for dissent. Against a well-organised Burton side, the Blues were undone by poor defending at set-pieces and profligacy in attack. The Brewers started brightly and made good use of Keith Gilroy and Alex Nicholls on the flanks by exploiting the space left by a narrow Grays midfield. Andy Ducross flashed a shot wide after a neat one-two with Corbett before the lively Aaron O‘Connor responded with a pacy run that was only denied by the veteran Kevin Pool‘s canny anticipation as he dived to smother the ball. Jamie Stuart then made a smart interception to take the ball away from Nicholls and at the other end Stuart Thurgood fired over from a header knocked down into his path by Dennis Oli.

In the 22nd minute, from a free-kick by Gilroy, Aaron Webster out-jumped the static Grays defence and his downward header seemed to somehow bounce over Danny Knowles and into the net to give the home side the lead. Four minutes later, Stuart had the ball in the net but the whistle-happy referee Mr.Craig Pawson adjudged the Grays man to have fouled keeper Poole. However, on the evidence of the video replay at the ground, there appeared to be minimal contact. Grays misery continued when Webster again got his head to a free-kick, this time Ryan Austin being the provider, and as the ball was directed across the area Darryl Clare acrobatically volleyed home to score his 17th of the season.

To their credit Grays pushed forward with purpose and the lion-hearted Stuart went close with two fine headers. O‘Connor then took centre stage and had two terrific efforts, the first drawing a great save from Poole and the second rebounding off the post. Just before half-time Ducross should have scored when the ball came off Anthony Tonkin‘s back to present the diminutive striker a clear scoring opportunity but to the relief of the travelling support he shot straight at Knowles.

The second half began with Grays continuing to press and O‘Connor, in truth the only likely source of a goal for the visitors, first had a more than reasonable shout for a penalty turned down after being brought down in the area and then saw a shot well-saved by Poole. From the hour mark onwards, the Blues began to wilt and the introduction of Albion‘s speedy Shaun Harrad caused the fragile Grays rearguard problems. Knowles saved magnificently from Harrad then the same player was clean through but shot wildly over the bar. In the 90th minute, Ryan Austin slid the ball to the advancing Harrad but he was shoved over by Tonkin. The defender was sent off and Edinburgh, protesting vehemently that Harrad was clearly off-side also received his marching orders.Webster stepped up and converted the resultant penalty to give the homesters a rather flattering 3-0 victory.

Grays Athletic: Knowles, Sambrook, Stuart, Downer, Tonkin, Nicholls, Thurgood, Martin, Oli, O'Connor, Rhodes(Bodkin 78)
Subs not used: Bayes, Barness, Harding, Joseph-Dubois

Booked: Downer(80), Sambrook(85)

Sent Off: Tonkin(92)

Attn: 1419

Ref: C. Pawson

Fans Man of the Match: Bodkin

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