Canvey Island 1 - 2 Grays Ath

A quiet start to the game saw little action in the first 10 minutes as both teams tried hard to gain the important advantage of winning the midfield battle. In the 12th minute Canvey broke into the opposition half and a lunging tackle from Bradley Thomas gave a free kick away on the edge of the area. The free kick was well taken, curling over the wall heading for the top of the net, only for Ali Aksoy to push over the bar with a spectacular diving save.

As the half progressed Grays began to assert control in the midfield with good link up play between Kenny Beaney, Harry Agombar and Joao Carlos. The Grays players appeared to gain confidence from this as Thomas went on a weaving run, ending up on the edge of Canvey area only to shoot wide.

The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Lee Flynn and Carlos exchanged quick passes down the left and a ball over the top by Carlos allowed Flynn to advance into the area where his cross/shot was met at the back post by Louis Dennis for a simple tap in.

Grays almost made it 2 in 2 minutes after Agombar collected the ball in midfield and played an exquisite pass between the Canvey centre half and right back. Dennis broke through on goal but shot wide as the keeper advanced.

Grays continued to advance and crosses from the left and right by Flynn and Lewis Perkins were barely contained by the Canvey back line.
In the 28th minute the pressure told as a rare Canvey attack saw their defence push up with a high line and a pin point 60 yard pass by Agombar from the edge of the Grays area over the Canvey defence saw Dennis through on goal. As he advance into the area, the Canvey keeper came to close the angle and a smart square pass across the area saw Jean Sigere score his first Grays goal with a simple finish.

As the half began to draw to a close, the home team came back into the game. Crosses from both sides were well held by the Grays keeper and a smart one on one save by Aksoy ensured Grays went into half time with a 2 goal advantage.

The second half began much as the first with the majority of the play limited to the middle of the park as both teams again tried to establish their passing games. Perkins continued to press down the right for Grays and link ups with Agombar and Beaney saw searching crosses again penetrate the Canvey area.

With 10 minutes of the second half gone, Grays began to change personnel with Perkins and Agombar making way for Danny Bunce and Dave Cowley, who was with Grays last pre season. The second half was evenly contested with free kicks from 30 yards being the only real threat to either team’s penalty area.

In the 70th minute, Grays made further substitutions with Carlos, Dennis, Sigere and Aksoy making way for Bertie Brayley, Eljay Worrell, Joe Sweeney and Steve Northwood.

Grays appeared to lose the flowing football evident in the first half as the subs struggled to link with quick passes. This allowed Canvey to exert more pressure on Grays as firstly a shot over the bar from 12 yards and a header from a free kick threatened to break Grays’ solid defence.

Canvey finally broke through on 80 minutes following a foul by Junior Baker on the edge of the box; the free kick was curled fiercely into the top right hand corner of the goal with Northwood having no chance to save.

The next five minutes saw a succession of corners to Canvey but the Grays defence stood resolute to the pressure.

In the 86th minute a ball over the top by Cowley allowed Sweeney to advance into the area. He crossed the ball for Worrell at the back post but his shot was well saved and the ball subsequently cleared.

Grays still found time to produce 1 more chance as good work by Sweeney down the right allowed Cowley to cross the ball deep. The ball was headed back across the face of goal by Worrell but the advancing Brayley mistimed his jump and headed over the bar from 1 yard.

This miss wasn't vital however as shortly after the referee blew the final whistle to see Grays run out 2-1 winners over their local rival Canvey Island.

Starting Line-up – Ali Aksoy (triallist), Craig Pope, Junior Baker, Bradley Thomas, Lee Flynn, Lewis Perkins (trialist), Harry Agombar, Kenny Beaney , Joao Carlos, Jean-Michel Sigere, Louis Dennis (trialist)

Subs – Stephen Northwood, Danny Bunce, Eljay Worrell, Dave Cowley (trialist), Joe Sweeney, Bertie Brayley (triallist)