Matches

Match Report By Martin Candler

Grays showed stout resistance and no little skill to claim a well-merited point against a robust Histon side still with lingering hopes of a play-off place. After heavy snow the previous day, the Histon groundstaff had worked hard to make the pitch playable but it was still very heavy which suited the direct style of the home side. Histon have surprised a few pundits this campaign by rising to seventh in the table in their debut season in the Blue Square Premier. With the Blues trying to play their more measured football, the contrast in styles made for a thoroughly entertaining game.

Histon started well and their lively front three posed the Grays defence early problems. In the 8thth minute Danny Wright, unmarked, side-footed his goal attempt straight at Nicky Eyre. Grays failed to heed the warning signs as just two minutes later Nat King-Percival was also left clear in the six-yard box but this time he made no mistake to put Histon in front. Wright then shot wide before Aaron O‘Connor and Jamie Taylor responded with efforts that went close. In the 44th minute, Grays conjured an equaliser; a fine cross by Barry Cogan saw Scott Taylor get in front of his marker and his clever flick-header found the top corner of the net.

In the second half, Grays began to exert more control of the game and in the 58th minute, Jamie Taylor sprinted on to a pass out of defence by Jon Ashton, shook off two defenders before rounding the keeper and rolling the ball into the unguarded net. A fine individual goal by a player who showed good movement and application throughout the match. Instead of looking for a third killer goal and perhaps unbalanced a little by the withdrawal of Simon Downer from the back four, Grays seemed to sit back in an attempt to defend their lead. Histon took advantage of the extra room in midfield and began to push forward in numbers in search of an equaliser.

It came in controversial circumstances in the 78th minute, referee MrM.Brown spotting an alleged push on sub Jamie Barker by Ashton from a Histon cross, a transgression not seen by most fans in the stadium, home and visiting! In fact, in the same passage of play, Nicky Eyre seemed to be fouled in attempting to punch the ball to safety. In the 86th minute Stuart Thurgood, slowly re-discovering his best form, put sub Marlon Patterson clear on goal but for some reason, possibly lacking a little belief, he attempted a pass instead of a shot and the golden opportunity was lost. Then in the 93rd minute, Histon nearly snatched all three points when sub, Antonio Murray‘s header hit the outside of the post from Histon‘s 14th corner of the game. It was that sort of match!

Grays Athletic: Eyre, Downer(Saunders 62), Ashton, Stuart, Gross, Thurgood, Cogan(Patterson 70), O'Connor, S.Taylor(Standing 87), J.Taylor, Kedwell
Subs not used: Whincup, Day

Goalscorers: S.Taylor(44), J.Taylor(59)

Booked: Downer(24)

Attn: 711

Ref: Mr M Brown

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