Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

Justin Edinburgh employed a 4-3-3 formation in order to use the full width of a big pitch and exploit any weaknesses on the flanks of the home defence. The only problem was that Cambridge, in particular Courtney Pitt on the left, made much better use of the same tactic and constantly exposed the Grays full backs. By playing at a higher tempo and getting the ball forward at the earliest opportunity to the willing front pair of Leo Fortune-West and Scott Rendell, in for the injured ex-Blue Lee Boylan, Cambridge looked the most likely scorers throughout the game. Yet territorially, Grays had parity of possession but were rather laboured in their attempts to feed the front three, with lone central striker Craig McAllister, at least in the first half, trying manfully to make the most of limited opportunities. Aaron O‘Connor showed some neat touches on the right but skipper Mark Albrighton and his co-defenders were quick to snuff out any goal threat

In the first half, Grays traded chances with Cambridge, Albrighton volleying wide and keeper Danny Potter, formerly of Canvey and Stevenage, saving a McAllister header. In the 19th minute, Pitt crossed the ball to Stephen Reed whose crisp drive was pushed round the post by the alert Ross Flitney, then towards the end of the half first Dennis Oli, largely ineffective in this match, and then Jamie Stuart both missed with headers.

A worrying trend this season has been a tendency to begin the second half of games too slowly; this time the Blues paid the ultimate price. In the 48th minute, after a Grays attack had broken down, Pitt was released on the left and found Reed, whose telling cross was headed into the net by Rendell, right in front of the noisy fans at the Newmarket End, to give Cambridge the advantage. The Blues defence were caught leaden-footed and this reverse clearly upset their composure and spurred the homesters on, and for a period it was all Cambridge pressure. Steadied by the impressive Jon Ashton and defied by the resourceful Flitney, Grays slowly recovered. But after charging out of his goal to thwart a Cambridge attack Flitney was booked for grabbing Daniel Gleeson‘s shirt to prevent him taking a quick free-kick. Two penalty appeals by Cambridge were correctly turned down by referee Stewart before Grays introduced Jamie Day, Danny Kedwell and Gavin Grant in an attempt to give the Blues fresh impetus. Both Ernie Cooksey and Adam Gross saw shots go wide and Flitney saved bravely at the feet of Rob Wooleaston before Fortune-West headed a Pitt cross over the bar

In truth, Grays just didn‘t do enough to unsettle a strong, well-drilled Cambridge team, being too deliberate in their build-up and lacking a cutting edge up front. However, although there is clearly plenty of room for improvement, it‘s surely no disgrace for Justin’s new-look squad lose by the odd goal to an in-form side so early in the season

Grays Athletic: Flitney, Sambrook, Stuart, Aston, Gross, Oli(Grant 71), Murray, Barnard(Day 64), Cooksey, O'Connor, McAllister(Kedwell 71)
subs not used: Knowles, Watson

Booked: Gross(44), Flitney(66), Stuart(94)

Ref: M.D. Stewart

Attn: 2793

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