Matches

Match Report By Martin Candler

Grays continued their recent winning sequence by recording a 4th consecutive victory, this time over Blue Square new boys, Farsley Celtic. Backed by the League‘s meanest defence, the Blues showed flashes of skill and penetration in their forward play, particularly in the opening half, to give a rather muted home support cause for optimism for the battles ahead.

The industrious Ernie Cooksey twice gave Aaron O‘Connor chances to open the Blues‘ account but he narrowly missed on both occasions. In the 28th minute, however, O‘Connor came within a whisker of scoring when his fine strike hit the post; following up, Jamie Day‘s equally well-hit shot rebounded off the bar. O‘Connor was finally rewarded for his persistence in the 35th minute, when from a Day corner, he gleefully volleyed past Farsley‘s custodian, Tom Morgan, to give Grays the advantage. Mention must be made of the outstanding Blues defence this term which as Justin points out starts from the front three who chase everything down. Just before the break, the defensive nous of the back four was exemplified by defensive lynch-pin, Jon Ashton; a Farsley attacker managed to steal a yard on him and was bearing down on goal. Ashton took the ball off him as sweet as a nut and still got up from the tackle to thwart an onrushing Farsley player and clear the ball to safety. More Serie A than Blue Square!

The second half saw Grays less fluent in their approach play, despite the non-stop running of Danny Kedwell and O‘Connor up front. The pair combined well in the 53rd minute but Morgan finger-tipped O‘Connor‘s shot away, Kedwell having provided the opening. Farsley, well-marshalled at the back by Amjad Iqbal, knocked the ball around in pleasing fashion but apart earning a flurry of corner kicks in the last 10 minutes, rarely looked like breaking down the resolute Grays defence.

After the game Justin expressed his disappointment at the lack of vocal support from the home fans for his team; fair comment, but surely most Blues fans have shown solid support both for him and the team in what was a difficult start to the season. It takes time also for the supporters to get to know the new players brought in by Justin; let‘s knock over some of the big boys with a bit of style and you‘ll hear some noise!

Grays Athletic: Flitney, Downer, Ashton, Stuart, Obersteller, Murray, Cooksey, Day (Thurgood 66), O'Connor (Marshall 86), Kedwell, Watson (Grant 72).
Subs Not Used: Trebes, Sambrook.

Booked: Downer.

Goalscorer: O'Connor(36)

Attn: 724

Ref: I Scarr (West Midlands).

Match Pictures:

Graeme Truby (Official Photographer):

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