Matches

Match Report By Martin Candler

Coming into the New Year with high hopes of a strong finish to their season, the Blues were handed a short, sharp shock by their Kent neighbours. This young, vibrant Ebbsfleet side tore into Grays from the off and emerged with a deserved victory. Grays, after their great win over League leaders Aldershot on Saturday, looked thoroughly out of sorts and were bested all over the park.

In fact, in the very first minute, skipper Fleet‘s James Smith headed just over the bar when unchallenged; an effort that set the tone for an all-out attacking display by the home team. Somehow managing to contain the opening charge, Grays, with the division‘s best defensive record were surely going to stamp their authority on the match. Alas no, as in the 28th minute a slightly mis-hit shot from the edge of the area by Neil Barrett had enough legs to deceive Ross Flitney. Well-led by the powerful teenager, John Akinde, and supported by a terrier-like mid-field, Ebbsfield kept Grays on the back foot and just before the interval, with Andy Sambrook receiving treatment on the touchline, Ebbsfleet doubled their lead. From a free-kick the ball was worked through to live-wire, Stacy Long, who beat Flitney with a clinical finish.

The introduction of Michael Standing at the restart stiffened a previously over-run Blues mid-field and in the 63rd minute, Grays halved the deficit. Alan Power, one of the few plusses to emerge on the night, receiving the ball from just over the half-way line ran at a retreating home defence, who clearly thought he was going to off-load, instead were stunned when he showed the confidence to keep going, slip by the last defender and rifle a shot past home custodian, Lance Cronin. When Ebbsfield hit the underside of the bar in the 70th minute, Grays hopes of an unlikely comeback rose but were soon dampened five minutes later when Ebbsfleet scored their third goal. The Grays defence were yet again rather static as the ball fizzed across the penalty area finally arriving at the feet of Michael Bostwick who was given time to steady himself before finding the corner of the net. In the 87th minute, Long, in oceans of space on the left, beat his marker a little too easily and struck a sweet drive past Flitney to seal an emphatic victory for Ebbsfleet.

After the game Justin expressed his disappointment at his team‘s “sluggish” display but well knows that in this league if you are not on top of your game you will be punished. However, one poor display should not overshadow the squad‘s tangible improvement as the season has developed and, if anything, should act as a wake-up call to bounce back as quickly as possible.

Grays Athletic: Flitney, Downer, Gaia, Stuart, Sambrook (Standing 45), Selley, Power, Obersteller (Day 82), O'Connor, Watson, Kedwell (Cumbers 67).
Subs Not Used: Gibbons, Ashton.

Booked: Downer.

Goalscorer: Power(64)

Attn: 1396

Ref: B Malone (Wiltshire).

Match Pictures

Graeme Truby (Official Photographer):

Forthcoming fixtures