Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

What was, in truth, a dour and pedestrian match exploded into life in a bizarre but exciting last five minutes.An obvious contender for any “what happened next?” sports programme saw Grays concede a goal the like of which Grays fans will probably never witness again, coupled with a penalty save right at the death, sent the drenched faithful home with plenty to talk about!

Frank Gray, former Blues manager, sent his young side out patently to restrict Grays from settling into any kind of rhythm by, when necessary, putting everyone behind the ball, except the beanpole striker, Marvin Morgan. Woking, it must be said, defended well and chased and harried to frustrate a Grays sidewho had most of the territorial play but lacked invention in mid-field and penetration up front. With Mark Marshall stretching full-back, Paul Lorraine, on the left hand side, the Blues did create good chances for Jamie Stuart, Aaron O‘Connor and Danny Kedwell but could not find a goalscoring finish. Woking‘s only serious attempt on goal came when Guiseppe Sole slipped through a hitherto untroubled home rearguard to fire past Ross Flitney‘s post.

In the second half, skipper Stuart Thurgood was almost immediately withdrawn, suffering from a recurrence of his ankle injury, and the introduction of Dennis Oli gave more pace and penetration down the right flank. In their best spell of the match only Woking‘s solid defending and an inspired display by man-of-the-match, keeper Nick Gindre, prevented a home score. O‘Connor, Kedwell, Jon Ashton and O‘Connor again all went close before the match reached the 85th minute when a surreal turn of events unfolded.

After an injury to a Woking player on the half-way line referee Ian Cooper awarded a drop ball and incredulously Danny Bunce‘s resultant 60 yard punt in the general direction of the Grays goal somehow ended up in the back of the net with Flitney stranded well off his line expecting a gentle pass back! After some furore and much confusion a goal was awarded and to his eternal credit Woking‘s Frank Gray, at the restart, ordered his players to allow sub Ben Watson to run through, unchallenged, and claim the equaliser.

Just as the crowd were mulling over the unbelievable, the unexpected happened; an under-hit Ashton back-pass was touched past Flitney by the alert Morgan and he was upended by the home custodian. Penalty! As the referee considered Morgan was running away from the goal, Flitney, somewhat fortuitously in some observers‘ opinion, was only awarded a yellow card; he then produced an outstanding save from Danny Bunce‘s spot-kick to preserve a point for the Blues.

On reflection, two things clearly emerge. The first is that, with seven newcomers in the starting eleven, Blues fans must surely be patient for the team to develop an understanding and pattern of play, for there is certainly plenty of ability in the squad. The second, and in the broader football sense more important, congratulations must be given to the outstanding sportsmanship of the Woking side and in particular manager Frank Gray for their gesture to allow Watson to score unchallenged. Perhaps the League should honour this sporting act in some way as it was, for those spectating, a breath of fresh air in an increasingly murky football world!

Grays Athletic: Flitney, Sambrook, Ashton, Stuart, Cooksey, Murray, Hearn, Thurgood (Oli 47), Marshall, Kedwell (McAllister 66), O'Connor (Watson 73).
Subs Not Used: Knowles, Gross.

Booked: Hearn, Flitney, Marshall.

Goalscorer: Watson 87.

Att: 1004

Ref: D Cooper (Kent).

Official Match Day Pictures by Graeme Truby

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