Ilford 0 – 5 Grays Athletic

Grays dominated the early exchanges as they settled into their game quickly and won a free-kick just outside the box, but Junior Baker just failed to head on target from a Lee Flynn cross. Within minutes a long clearance by Andy Hall evaded Jon Spencer in the Foxes defence to land at the feet of Joao Carlos whose miss hit shot across the box allowed for the fast running Anthony Ryan to slot the ball home to give the Blues the lead.

Stanley Muguo was holding the midfield against a physical Ilford side but Grace Ssremba evaded his challenge to run at Hall but the ever reliable Junior Baker was on hand to clear. A free kick by Ssremba was again cleared by Baker and a run by Rob Carter found Danny Gabriel clear but his weak shot rolled wide as Ilford worked hard to get into the game. David Cowley worked his way through but his shot was tipped over the bar by on-form Rob Budd and the corner was cleared from the toes of Joe Sweeney.

Carter hit a shot wide to give the away side a scare but Grays were on top as they poured forward looking to add to their lead. A free-kick was crossed by Flynn but Ryan couldn’t get his head to the ball, then a Cowley cross found Sweeney space, but his shot came back off the post and Carlos could only hit the loose ball over the bar.

The Blues could not turn their possession into goals as Sweeney, Ryan, Carlos and Flynn all spurned chances as Budd managed to keep the ball clear and the under-fire home defence hit the ball long and high to clear their lines. The game was all Grays as the half drew to a close and the Foxes were relieved to hear the whistle only one goal down.

Ilford came out to try and take the game to the Blues and almost immediately a bad defensive clearance allowed Ssremba through to chip the advancing Hall only for Cooper to hit the ball off the line to the relief of all.

Cowley ran at the Foxes lines and his cross was cleared off the feet of Carlos but another run by Cowley found Sweeney wide and his perfect cross was hit first time by Ryan to double Grays lead within ten minutes of the restart. The Ilford side didn’t give up as they attacked with Carter and Ssremba and a shot by the latter was fumbled by Hall but Craig Pope was on the line to clear the ball and maintain a clean sheet.

Grays were not to be denied and upped their pace. Kenny Beaney and Muguo were beginning to control midfield and a solid pass from Muguo found Cowley clear and his cross reached Sweeney who’s shot was well saved by Budd but the ball fell to Pope to slot the ball into the net to make it three without reply.

Within a couple of minutes it was four without reply when Muguo won the ball in the middle to pass to Ryan. His turn and shot was charged down by Budd but Sweeney hit the loose ball home to score a deserved goal. A triple sub brought on Jay Nash, Danny Bunce and Jean-Michel Sigere for Flynn, Ryan and Sweeney with twenty minutes to go, and this initially unbalanced the Blues rhythm as Ilford started to impart their style onto the game and pushed to put pressure on Grays.

Gabriel hit a free-kick over the wall for Hall to hold on his second attempt then a cross by Quinn was hit goal-wards by Carter only for Bunce to clear the ball. The scoring was completed when a run and shot by Sigere was deflected onto the bar, then as the ball ran loose, a Pope shot was saved by Budd and the ball fell to the feet of Beaney to hit the ball home and complete the route in added time.

A comprehensive victory against an Ilford side who, to their credit never gave up the fight

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Lee Flynn (Danny Bunce 70), Grant Cooper, Junior Baker, Craig Pope, David Cowley, Kenny Beaney, Stanley Muguo, Joao Carlos, Anthony Ryan (Jay Nash 73), Joe Sweeney (Jean-Michel Sigere 73)

Subs not used: - Bradley Thomas, Harry Agombar.

Report by Steve Allen