Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

Grays slipped to their third 1-0 defeat in the last four games against a well-drilled, if limited, Forest Green outfit. The Blues cause was hardly helped by the 10th minute sending-off of Ernie Cooksey whose lunge on Rover‘s skipper, Michael Brough was deemed dangerous by referee Mr. Fletcher. Although the general consensus from both benches was that the tackle was worthy of just a yellow card, it did look and sound a bad challenge at the point of impact; enthusiastic and honest a player as he is, Cooksey must recognise that he cannot win every ball regardless!

To Justin‘s credit, he kept two up front for the whole game and it was more through poor passing and a tendency to take an extra touch, particularly in the final third of the pitch, that was Grays‘ undoing. Aaron O‘Connor hit the post early on but it was from an offside position. After Cooksey‘s dismissal, Grays tore into Forest Green and Danny Kedwell and the returning Stuart Thurgood were rather unluckily booked as Grays strove for an equaliser. But with the elusive Les Afful and the persistent Stuart Fleetwood asking the solid Grays defence questions, Forest Green looked to capitalise on the weakened home side. The crucial breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Fleetwood slipped past Jon Ashton and squared the ball for Lee Dodgson to beat Ross Flitney and give the visitors the lead.

Under the wily managership of Jim Harvey, nice to see him back in football after his heart attack, Forest Green were quite content to sit behind the ball and hit Grays on the counter-attack. As against Histon, the Blues found it difficult to break down such a system and although they tried everything, their fluency and pass selection was off-key.

After the break, in an attempt to rescue the game, Karl Murray was taken off, Andy Sambrook pushing into mid-field, and then in the 60th minute Gavin Grant was introduced up front to partner Kedwell. Afful went on a 40 yard run but shot weakly when right through on goal. But clear-cut chances were few and far between although in the 77th minute a 30 yard rocket from Grant thundered against the bar. Thurgood, still understandably short of match fitness, could not find his radar with a number of free-kicks which were conceded by Forest Green, in particular, by the rugged defensive pairing of Chris Giles and Jamie Jones. Still Grays could not find a way through such a stubborn rearguard; on the counter, Fleetwood had two good opportunities but hit the side netting on both occasions as the visitors held out to claim all three points.

A disappointing display then but Justin is thoroughly convinced that with more games together his squad have enough about them to start to picking up points.

Grays Athletic: Flitney, Sambrook, Ashton, Stuart, Cooksey, Lawson (Marshall 68), Thurgood, Murray (Gross 46), Oli, O'Connor (Grant 60), Kedwell.
Subs Not Used: Knowles, McAllister.

Sent Off: Cooksey (11).

Att: 746

Ref: R Fletcher

Forthcoming fixtures