Morecambe 1 Grays Athletic 0
Sat, April 28, 2007. Kick off: 3:00 PM
Match Report by Martin Candler
After being caught cold in the first minute, Grays regrouped and battled hard to get the point that would guarantee Conference safety but had in the end to rely on other results to go their way. Despite enjoying some good possession and creating several chances once again their finishing let them down. However they were up against a fine footballing side in Morecambe whose movement and passing were top drawer, but on chances created the Blues probably matched them; but you still have to put the ball in the back of the net!
The only goal was a poor one from the Grays perspective; a cross by AdamYates somehow travelled right across the six-yard box for Paul Lloyd to nudge past Danny Knowles. But Grays soon responded and defenders Simon Downer and Jamie Stuart both had early chances but were off target. A Stuart Thurgood free-kick and a Dennis Oli header were comfortably saved by home custodian Paul Drench who also denied Johnny Martin on 22 minutes. Morecambe were moving the ball around sweetly but the Grays rearguard stood firm; however, the Blues front three were getting little change out of the Shrimps defence, superbly marshalled by man of the match Chris Blackburn.
In the second half the elusive Danny Carlton out-paced Downer but shot straight at Knowles a miss matched in similar fashion at the other end by Aaron O‘Connor. As the game drew to a close, sub Leroy Griffiths hit the side netting and Ashley Nicholls, who was the pick of the Grays mid-field, also hit the side netting from an even better position after a defence-splitting move.
When confirmation came through at the end of the match that Grays were safe from relegation the Grays players went to the away end to shake hands with most of the 130 or so travelling Blues who had given them such noisy vocal support throughout the game. Congratulations must go to Justin and his staff who have turned the Blues‘ fortunes around after a roller-coaster season and we can look forward to seeing his own stamp put on the Grays line-up in the next campaign. Thanks also to the two coachloads of Grays fans(and others) who made the long trip North; there were certainly some lively celebrations in Blackpool, where they were staying, on Saturday night!
Grays Athletic: Knowles, Sambrook, Stuart, Downer, Tonkin, Nicholls (Harding 84), Thurgood, Martin, Oli (Rhodes 78), O'Connor, Bodkin (Griffiths 55).
Subs Not Used: Bayes, Barness.
Att: 2303
Ref: S Cummins (Runcorn).
A Selection of pictures of the Grays Fans at Morecambe
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