At last, Blues find a higher gear

Grays Athletic travelled to Suffolk on Tuesday evening for the re-arranged fixture against league newcomers Ipswich Wanderers looking to get their push for safety back on track. And they produced without doubt their best performance of the season so far, controlling the game almost throughout and running out very comfortable winners. The game was though played in seriously difficult conditions with a gale blowing straight across the pitch and both sides should be congratulated for putting on such a good show.

It could have been very different had Rashid Salau done better with a close range chance in just the sixth minute, but he sliced his effort over the bar. But after that scare, Blues took control. The Wanderers had their keeper to thank minutes later when Giani Ashley started his impressive debut by picking out Codey Cosgrave, whose header was firmly struck but home keeper Danny Cullum saved well.

It didn’t though take Grays long to open the scoring. After Charlie Stimson had been brought down just outside the box, Billy Crook stepped up and steered his free kick low round the wall and between keeper and post for a 1-0 lead.

The home side looked shaky at the back, and Kian Connolly nearly profited when Cullum and his centre halves dithered but the keeper took charge in the nick of time. Ipswich’s main threat was down their right wing, where the impressive Ben Haddoch kept the Blues defence busy but Michael Finneran and his makeshift partner, Rohat Matyar held firm. In midfield, Malaki Toussaint was a commanding presence all night, breaking up the play and driving the Blues forward.

Shortly before the break, Grays extended their lead. Julian Gibson looked to have mishit his cross, but it fell perfectly to Cosgrave just inside the penalty area and he produced a delightful first-time finish to make it 2-0. And there was still time before the break for consternation at the other end when Jamahl Godward’s cross-shot flicked the crossbar on its way out of play.

Half time: Ipswich Wanderers 0 v 2 Grays Athletic

The second half was much as the first, Grays making most of the running and Ipswich failing to make the best of the chances that came their way. On 55 minutes, Danny Sambridge made his only real save of the game when he was forced to push Ollie Fraser’s shot away.

There then came the most intriguing moment of the night, Wanderers centre-half, Matt Paine, was forced to leave the field for treatment. He seemed to try to re-enter the field of play without waiting for permission and must have then said something untoward to the officials. The referee quickly brandished two yellow cards and Ipswich were forced to play the remainder of the evening with ten men.

Blues tried to make the most of their man advantage. Gibson found Connolly who ran into the area and his shot was shovelled round the post by Cullum. But they were not to be denied. With fifteen minutes left, Wanderers failed to clear their lines properly, Connolly picked up the loose ball and found Charlie Stimson by the penalty spot. He turned his defender and finished clinically to make it 3-0, sending the large contingent of travelling Blues supporters into raptures.

And it got even better when Omar Dacus picked a pass to his fellow sub Joao Carlos. The Grays crowd were willing one more goal from the Blues legend but his fierce shot was parried by Cullum, although only to the advancing Cosgrave, who buried the rebound for his second of the night and Grays’ fourth.

The only blot on the landscape for Blues came deep into injury time when they failed clear the ball from their area and Rashid Salau nicked the ball and finished from close range, to deny the visitors a clean sheet.

After the game, manager Darren Manning was delighted with the performance and energy shown throughout the 90 minutes, promising even more to come.

Next Saturday sees Blues back in Suffolk but with a daunting trip away to league leaders Lowestoft Town, but with more showings like this, the rest of the season looks much brighter.

Final score: Ipswich Wanderers 1 v 4 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Ashley, Gibson, Toussaint, Finneran, Matyar, Unwin (Gordon 65), Crook, Stimson (Dacus, 81), Cosgrave, Connolly (Carlos, 81)