Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

With Bromley riding high in the Ryman Premier and Grays struggling to re-capture last seasons form, here was an accident waiting to happen. Deprived of their talismatic leading scorer Aaron McLean with a reported “back strain”, Grays started the game with a flourish. The fast-raiding Michael Kightly was proving a handful as the Blues strove for the opening goal but it was the Lillywhites who drew first blood as early as the 11th minute. A raking diagonal pass out to full-back Mark Corneille left him one-on-one with Adam Green and the Grays defender was beaten rather too easily by Corneille whose shot was deflected into the path of the alert Lloyd Blackman. The former Woking striker swivelled and volleyed home past the helpless Ashley Bayes.

Grays responded with a Kightly free-kick that thudded against the bar but, undeterred, Kightly continued to torment the Bromley left flank and his persistence paid off in the 31st minute when he dribbled to the by-line, crossed the ball to the far post for Lee Boylan to gleefully net his first goal for the club. Home fans were now looking for the Blues to take control of the match but Bromley had other ideas. In the 38th minute, Green found himself picked out again by a high cross-field ball and was comprehensively out-jumped by the tall Peter Adeniyi, an error compounded by new recruit Chris Plummer who missed his tackle and allowed Blackman in to shoot past the apoplectic Bayes.

Although Grays had shaded the first half they could have been dead and buried when on the stroke of half-time Sam Wood‘s shot was hacked off the line. Hopes were still high in the second half as the feeling was that Grays extra fitness and firepower would see them home. But Bromley, to their credit, had done their homework and were quite content to soak up the pressure and frustrate their Conference opponents. Well marshalled at the back by skipper Francis Duku, they were always looking to catch out a less than secure home rearguard on the break. Grays, for their part, instead of using their pace and passing abilities, started to go long far too early and despite the introduction of all three substitutes looked increasingly ragged. Apart from two cross-shots pulled wide by sub Jamie Slabber and Glenn Poole, Grays failed to work Andy Walker, the Bromley goalkeeper, and even put the Master, Jamie Stuart up front in a desperate attempt to fashion a goal. But the visitors held firm and ran out worthy winners to the jubilation of their travelling support. We, as a club, have experienced victories like Bromley‘s in recent seasons; this time it was Bromley‘s day, so well played and good luck to them in the next round against near- neighbours Gillingham.

After the game, most Grays fans were bitterly disappointed at the manner of the defeat and the camp was divided between those who wanted the manager out and those who wanted to give him more time. This debate became academic, however, when the news came through that Frank Gray had been relieved of his duties. After all the outstanding successes over the last couple of years, it could not have been an easy act to follow. By all accounts Frank was a dignified person and genuine football man; may we wish him and his back-room staff all the best for the future.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrooke(Williamson), Green, Stuart, Oli, Boylan(Slabber), Martin(Thurgood), Kightly, Nicholls, Poole, Plummer
Subs not used: Knowles, McLean

Goalscorer: Boylan

Ref: R East

Attn: 820

Fans Man of the Match: Kightky

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