Concord take flight to down Grays

Blues travelled to Concord Rangers looking for some Christmas cheer in the Essex Senior Cup but came up short as manager Darren Manning chose to shuffle his pack, knowing that other important assignments lay ahead over the festive season. It turned out to be the quintessential game of two halves.

The first 45 minutes was high on huff and puff but short of quality from both sides, with Grays going toe-to-toe with their higher division opponents. As early as the fourth minute, Aron Gordon took off and picked the pocket of the home defence but couldn’t find a finish. Troy Osei-Bobie then tried his luck and keeper Mason Terry flapped at the chance, with Blue shirt on hand to take advantage. Concord then won a series of corners but the Grays defence held firm, Jacob Bland and Sharon Ifeanyi both shooting well off target.

The flying Jesse Olukolu was starting to see more of the ball on the right wing and was giving full back Jamal Allen a torrid time and on the half hour, he created another chance for Osei-Bobie which Terry pushed wide.

The referee, who had to this point been lenient with his decision-making, then decided that Khale Da Costa raising his hands to Jules Gibson off the ball and pushing him to the ground warranted no punishment. Codey Cosgrave then created the final chance of the half but Mert Apat cleared.

Half time: Concord Rangers 0 v 0 Grays Athletic

Whatever the Concord manager said at half time had an instant effect. Just two minutes in, Montrell Desland jinked and crossed from the left and Da Costa ghosted in to turn the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

Given the referee’s first half attitude, he then decided that every solid challenge was a yellow card offence and more than once caused confusion on the pitch with his decision-making.

Concord’s tails were up and it was soon 2-0. Blues keeper Kevin Manuel cleared the ball unconvincingly, the home side picked up possession and fed Harrison Day, who finished smartly. Blues looked to fight back but couldn’t find the breakthrough. Kian Connolly worked hard up front and his cross found sub NIdal Berri, who got the ball stuck under his boot when trying to finish from close range. Osei-Bobie was then flagged wrongly for offside - others might have been ahead of the defensive line but he clearly was not.

As the game progressed, Grays tired and the home side looked to kill the game. WIth five minutes left on the clock, sub Amine Sassi let fly from distance and keeper Manuel was maybe unsighted but the ball found the net for a 3-0 lead.

There then followed a moment of controversy. An attack was cleared downfield by the Blues defence and the referee played on. He then looked back and saw home man-mountain Apat prone on the ground and red-carded Michael Finneran. Your reporter confesses that like everyone else he was following the ball. To compound the misery, a penalty was awarded for whatever offence had been committed, which Day converted comfortably.

The salvo of scoring was completed in the 90th minute with Day taking home the match ball with a hat trick strike past Manuel, making it 5-0.

The referee then decided to play 13 minutes of additional time during which Blues sought a consolation, Connolly and Osei-Bobie both going close, but to no avail.

The final scoreline was harsh on Grays but Concord took their chances in the second half, with Blues having no answer to the pressure. We wish them well in the next round of the competition.

Importantly, now Blues return to league action over the festive period, with games coming thick and fast, looking to secure more points to pull away from the foot of the table.

Next up we visit Bowers & Pitsea on Boxing Day, with a midday kickoff.

Final Score: Concord Rangers 5 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath: Manuel, Millner, Gibson Clark Finnneran, Jones, Gordon (Stimson, 46), Cosgrave, Connolly (Carlos, 90), Osei-Bobie, Olukolu (Berri, 76)

Subs not used: Sambridge, Peart