Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

If ever there was a match that the old adage “a game of two halves” described perfectly this game at Welling‘s Park View Road Stadium was it. Tentative, unbalanced and vulnerable in the first half the Blues conceded a goal as early as the 6th minute. A corner by Jamie Day was headed across goal by Danny Kedwell for big Chris Moore to nod in from close range with a static Grays defence all looking at each other. Welling pressed forward and efforts from Steve Perkins and Jamie Day were somehow kept out as Grays struggled to find any pattern or fluency in their play.

Then, in the 34th minute, came the turning point in the match as the returning Stuart Thurgood picked up a loose ball in his own half and set man-of-the-match Johnny Martin running at the home defence. Martin slid an inviting pass down the channel to Gavin Grant. While everyone expected a lay-off, Grant instead cut inside and unleashed a sudden 25-yarder which flew low past the out-of-position Welling keeper Paul Hyde to give the Blues a foothold in the match.

The second half began with a downpour and it was Grays who made best use of the muddy conditions and the nature of the game changed completely. With the 5-man Grays mid-field establishing a firm grip, both flank-men Glenn Poole and Cam Mawer started to open up the home defence with strong running and accurate passing. Up front Dennis Oli and Grant were causing the robust centre-backs Perkins and Moore all sorts of problems with their pace and movement particularly as both defenders had to be mindful of the fact that they had earlier picked up yellow cards for clumsy challenges.

After Welling had missed with a header wide of the post, it was Grant, in the 72nd minute, who created Grays second when he crossed the ball for Poole‘s header to strike the post and roll over the line. Four minutes later, with the Blues now playing at their unstoppable best, passing the ball with fluency and purpose, the third goal arrived. A bit of Oli magic on the by-line saw his pass just elude the on-rushing Grant, the ball finding Poole on the left and his cross was headed into the net from close range by the jubilant Martin. The tiring Welling team were now being overrun by a rampant Blues and the scoring was completed fittingly in the 86th minute when that man Grant pulled the ball back for Thurgood to sweep home imperiously from the edge of the box and send the sizeable Grays contingent home soaked to the skin but happy!.

Of the many positives to emerge from this game, the gradual return to match fitness of Mawer, Oli and Thurgood and the impressive contribution of Grant stand out, but let‘s not forget the tireless running and clever link-play of Johnny Martin who set the bench mark for everyone to emulate in the matches to come.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Stuart, Cowan, Thurgood (Nicholls 87), Martin, Williamson, Smith, Poole, Oli (Boylan 88), Mawer, Grant (Molango86)
Subs not used: Joyce, Joseph-Dubois

Goalscorers: Grant(37), Poole(72), Martin(76), Thurgood(86)

Attn: 1163

Ref: East

Fans Man of the Match: Martin

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