Grays Athletic 0 Burton Albion 0
Tue, March 11, 2008. Kick off: 7:45 PM
Match Report By Martin Candler
Often a goal-less draw can be boring with no redeeming features but on this occasion there are positives that can be taken from this game. Against a background of being deprived of the services of Jon Ashton and Michael Standing, arguably our best two players recently, and playing a side in serious contention for a play-off place, the Blues played with gusto and purpose. Their cause was not helped in the 10th minute by a “careless” challenge by Burton‘s Jake Edwards which saw Ross Flitney having to leave the field with a suspected fractured wrist. His replacement, Nicky Eyre proved an able deputy, particularly late in the second with two fine saves that denied Burton a victory that their rather cautious tactics hardly deserved.
With a troublesome, swirling wind and a bumpy pitch to contend with, neither side looked comfortable in the first half, but Marlon Patterson and Aaron O‘Connor looked lively on the flanks and the former fired just over the bar after a thrilling run down the left.
The second half saw Grays increase the tempo with Neil McCafferty in mid-field showing greater confidence and in the 50th minute his 20-yarder was well saved by the visitor‘s best player, Saul Deeney. Jamie Taylor, who put in a tireless shift up front, also saw his shot saved but the goalie then produced an even better effort to deny the Blues after a hectic goalmouth scramble, tipping over a goal-bound shot. The late introduction of sub Sean Harrad gave the Brewers more attacking threat but he spoilt a clever dribble past two Grays defenders by shooting straight at Eyre.Grays kept going to the end but had to be satisfied with a point.
Our Leader was upbeat after the game saying that he was pleased with the effort shown by his team. The only negative aspect of the game was the chronic lack of confidence in front of goal; if we can remedy that problem, we end the season with a respectable mid-table finish, which would truly be an achievement after the roller-coaster campaign we have had!
Grays Athletic: Flitney (Eyre 10), Sambrook, Downer, Stuart, Gross, O'Connor, Day (Hearn 60), McCafferty, Scott Taylor, Patterson, Jamie Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Gaia, Kedwell, Mawer.
Booked: Stuart.
Attn: 496.
Ref: A Halliday (West Yorkshire).
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