Matches

Match Report By Martin Candler

Grays put on a grand show of attacking football at the New Rec to claim the scalp of a Cambridge United side that, until just recently, have had a storming season. Along with impressive victories over League leaders Aldershot and Stuart Fleetwood-inspired Forest Green( the debacle at Ebbsfleet excepted), this win goes some way to dispel the doubters who said we hadn‘t met anyone worthy in the last month or two.

With Karl Murray, Alan Power and two-goal hero Michael Standing in mid-field allying composure and craft to a prodigious work-rate, Grays kept their heads, despite going a goal down in the first half against the run of play. Cam Mawer, on his welcome comeback after serious injury, gave the Blues extra mobility in defence as well as pace down the right flank where his tireless overlapping was a constant thorn in the side of the big Cambridge defence. But above all this was a team effort where every player contributed from the resolute defence to the fast-improving and cleverly inter-changing front three.

U‘s manager, Jimmy Quinn said after the game that a contributory fact to his side‘s defeat was the rain-sodden pitch but the home fans thought it held up well to provide a proper test for both teams; if anything, the groundstaff should be congratulated for getting such a thrilling spectacle under way!

The first half saw Grays having the best of the exchanges; Ben Watson shooting wide when put through by Aaron O‘Connor, then missing from close-in with a header, then O‘Connor and Danny Kedwell both firing over the bar when well-placed. In the 26th minute, Cambridge took the lead in front of their noisy, but well-behaved supporters at the Bradbourne Road end. Santos Gaia, perhaps dwelling on the ball too long, let in Rob Wolleaston who combined well with Dan Gleeson the latter squaring the ball across for Scott Rendell to stab home his 14th League goal of the campaign. Cambridge then had a fair shout for a penalty but the excellent referee MrHooper would have none of it.

Grays took a while to recover but within a minute of the restart they were level. Despite Danny Potter making two block saves in the same Grays attack, Michael Standing made no mistake a third time as he was on hand to prod the ball over the line. Cambridge immediately responded by winning a corner, taken by Stephen Reed, and met with a thumping header into the net by defender Mark Albrighton. The effort was ruled out for pushing and a relieved Grays team continued to play their controlled football in search of the winner. It came in the 71st minute and what a goal it was! A Power free-kick was cleared by the visitor‘s defence, the ball falling to Standing some 20 yards out and his crashing volley gave Potter no chance.

The game then became a little scrappy for a while, the homesters perhaps disrupted by injuries to Kedwell(replaced by debutant Scott Taylor) and Watson, but as it reached its latter stages, Cambridge threw everything at Grays. However, the Blues‘ renowned defence, with Spurs loanee, David Button, showing great assurance between the sticks, were equal to the task and despite sub Courtney Pitt lobbing just over late in the game, Grays ran out worthy winners. Cambridge, it must be said, played their part fully in a hard-fought but sporting contest which warmed the hearts of the Grays faithful, who were most royally entertained. Can we keep this momentum going in the challenging games ahead over the next few weeks? Why not!

Grays Athletic: Button, Gaia, Ashton, Stuart, Mawer, Murray, Standing, Power, O'Connor, Kedwell (Taylor 54), Watson (Daniel 73).
Subs Not Used: Flitney, Jack Obersteller, McCafferty.

Goalscorer: Standing (46, 71)

Attn: 1403

Ref: S Hooper (Swindon)

Match Pictures

Graeme Truby (Official Photographer):

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