Matches

Match Report By Martin Candler

In a vibrant match at the New Recreation ground, both teams served up a compelling mixture of unrelenting commitment sprinkled with some high individual skills. Throughout the game the advantage swung from one side to the other but Grays fans were convinced that two controversial decisions surrounding the two Shots goals handed a crucial impetus to their visitors.

Grays started the game at a furious pace and created several half-chances for Lee Boylan, Michael Kightly and Aaron McLean but came closest to scoring when Dennis Oli‘s penetrating run and powerful shot was athletically tipped over the bar by the excellent visitor‘s keeper, Nikki Bull. Slowly Aldershot clawed their way back into the game and Ashley Bayes, not to be up-staged by his opposite number, made brilliant close-range stops on three occasions to deny Watford loanee Joel Grant.

The second half saw Aldershot push forward in an increasingly open game and in the 61st minute they took the lead. A deep corner taken by influential ex-Bristol Rovers winger Ryan Williams was headed back across goal by Louie Soares for David Winfield to prod goalwards. Bayes dived on the ball among a ruck of players protecting it with his body but to the astonishment of the home team and their supporters the linesman flagged for a goal. Whether it was over the line or not, two things can be said: firstly, the referee made no initial attempt to award a goal, obviously unsure himself, and, secondly, perhaps more damning, the Aldershot players made no obvious representations to the referee.

Then Kightly was in and flashed a shot just wide but not to be denied, in the 71st minute, he levelled the scores. Fed by Boylan, Kightly cut in from the right and unleashed a fierce shot which, aided by a deflection, flew into the top corner. Grays now had their tails up and began to find the time and space previously denied them. Three times Boylan was wide with terrific efforts and added weight to the feeling in the Grays camp that he is close to showing his true goal-scoring form. Debutant defender, Djoumin Sangare also showed his attacking abilities as Grays poured forward with two fine headers, one of which hit the post and the other whistled just wide.

Six minutes from time, however, what looked to most observers like a well-timed tackle just outside the box by Sangare, was adjudged by the rather officious referee, Mr S.Cook, to be a free-kick to the Shots. Williams, who had just gone close with a previous free-kick, this time curled the ball perfectly past Bayes‘ outstretched hand to deliver a hammer blow to Grays‘ hopes of salvaging something from the game.

Grays can take heart from the performances of the improving Boylan and the strong-tackling Sangare and from the fact that plenty of chances are being created. But one must give credit to Aldershot who came with the intention of taking the game to Grays and with their infusion of younger players perhaps showed greater energy and mobility than in recent games between the two clubs.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Green(Slabber 88), Stuart, Sangare, Oli, Boylan, McLean, Kightly, Mawer(Williamson 77), Nicholls, Poole
Subs not used: Knowles, Martin, Wright

Goalscorer: Kightly (71)

Booked: McLean(43), Kightly(50), Poole(61), Stuart(75)

Attn: 1279

Referee: S Cook

Fans Man of the Match: Bayes

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

Photo: © Mark Gardner

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