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Matches

Grays Athletic 1 Kettering Town 1
Tue, August 12, 2008. Kick off: 7:45 PM

Match Report By Martin Candler

After a reality check both in the performance and the result at Weymouth on Saturday, Grays set their stall out to show greater determination and competitiveness against a robust Kettering side. Starting with front pairing of Jamie Taylor and Charlie Ide, Grays tried to use their pace against the combative Guy Branston and the huge, exotically named Exodus Geohaghon at the back. In the first half this proved difficult as the service to the Grays duo was not accurate or played early enough and Geohaghon, in particular, was both supreme in the air and surprisingly quick over the ground.

Kettering counter-attacked with gusto and nearly profited from a Jamie Stuart error but Jon Ashton averted the danger with a timely interception. A minute later Adam Gross headed off the line, but the Blues responded in the 31st minute when Taylor swooped on a long punt out of defence but shot over the bar.

The second half was a much livelier affair, with Ishmael Welsh at last seeing more of the ball and his trickery and probing deliveries were a constant threat to the visitor‘s defence. The introduction of Danny Kedwell changed the balance of the game as his singular mix of brawn and subtlety brought leadership and cohesion to the home side‘s attacks. In the 71st minute another fine cross by Welsh saw Kedwell‘s blocked effort fall to Taylor whose shot was deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Branston.

Seven minutes later Grays conceded a soft goal when a free kick was headed in at the far post by John Dempster with little challenge from the slow-reacting Blues defence. Although the header looped over Grays‘ keeper, Steve Arnold, no blame could be attached to him as he rightly expected his co-defenders to deal with what was a “regulation” cross. In fact the youngster showed good handling throughout and made some smart saves particularly late in the second half when he bravely threw himself at a the feet of an attacker to avert a certain score.

The game had now livened up considerably and Kettering should have scored when golden opportunity fell to Jean Paul Marna but he sliced his shot horribly wide of an open goal. Chances came to Kedwell, Barry Cogan and Rob Gier but were spurned. However, more drama arrived in the dying minutes when Taylor was upended in the box by Branston and a penalty was awarded by referee Mr Long. Considering himself aggrieved Branston then stupidly hauled Taylor from the ground by his throat and in the ensuing melee four players were booked, two from each side; the perpetrator Branston somewhat fortunately receiving just a yellow card, not the expected red. After what seemed like an eternity, Kedwell stepped up to take the spot-kick but, perhaps unsettled by the long delay, shot tamely at Poppies keeper Lee Harper to deny the Blues victory.

On reflection, a draw was probably about the rightresult, and Grays, although not firing on all cylinders, could point to a considerable improvement on last Saturdays‘ performance at Weymouth.

Grays Athletic: Arnold, Gier, Stuart, Ashton, Gross, Campana(Molesley 84), Elliott, Cogan, Welsh, Taylor, Ide(Kedwell 66)
Subs not used: Woolley, Sloma, Bailey

Goalscorer: Taylor(72)

Booked: Gross(22), Elliott(90), Taylor(90)

Ref: S Long

Attn: 696