News - January 2008

News

U14 Grays Athletic new signing
Eastern Junior Alliance

Grays Athletic U14 are in the process of signing Josh Russell from Leyton FC, Josh can play in defence or midfield. He is a proven player at Eastern Junior Alliance level he has played for Byron FC & Colebrook Royals in the ECHO premier. Josh will be avalible for the sqaud as soon as his transfer is completed. We would like to wish him the very best of luck at Grays Athletic.

Results

Under 18

Eastern Junior Alliance South West

Leyton 2 Grays Athletic 0

Under 16

Chelmsford League

Grays Athletic U16A 3 Mountnessing Juniors 3
Goalscorers: Glandfield(2), Dixon

Unlucky result as our boys outplayed the opposition throughout the match. Lack of concentration was responsible for Mountnessings first two goals but despite us going 2 down, the lads dug in their heels and more than earned the draw if not more.

Under 15

Eastern Junior Alliance Western

Woodbridge Town 3 Grays Athletic 1

Under 14

Eastern Junior Alliance Southern Central

Grays Athletic 2 Maldon Town 1
Goalscorers: Keshrino, Judd

Under 12

Echo League Premier Division League Cup

Grays Athletic Youth 1 Ridgeway Rovers 0
Goalscorer: Onye

Grays struggled to field the bare eleven today, and with no regular goalkeeper available due to injury they knew they had their work cut out to beat Ridgeway.

Lewis Brown volunteered to go in goal, and pulled off a great double save to prevent Ridgeway scoring, collecting a hefty bash to the head in the process. He recovered from this to play on and keep a clean sheet in the process.

The deadlock was broken with six minutes left in the first half, Onye running from midfield and hitting a great left foot shot across the stranded keeper and into the far corner.

Grays maintained their lead, even when reduced to ten men due to a nasty injury to George courtesy of a stud‘s high challenge on him, not for the first time in the match either.

A close match with a narrow victory. These two teams have met three times in three seasons in cup competitions, twice in a final, each time a single goal separated the teams. Grays are currently 2 – 1 up overall!

Well played boys.

Under 10

U10 Echo League Trent Division

Grays Athletic 4 Waltham Forest 1
Goalscorers: Price(2), Edmunds, Bearman

On a crisp, sunny morning for a change the boys got back to winning ways against a lively Waltham Forest team.

Grays took the lead after 4 minutes in when a right-wing cross from Price found its way into the net off the opposing goalkeeper. Waltham Forest were quick to the ball and had some speedy forwards but Grays doubled their lead 3 minutes before half-time. Bearman collected the ball on the left and played it back to Klessa-Smith
whose low shot was fumbled by the keeper and Edmunds was there to walk the ball into the net. Just 2 minutes later a clearance from defence by Le^Rogers sailed into the area and Price watched the ball in the air before unleashing a crisp volley into the net and send the boys in at half-time with a healthy 3-0 lead.

Waltham Forest came out stronger in the second half and grabbed a goal back in the first few minutes when their winger was allowed to run down the left and his cross was poked in past Dale at the far post. Grays upped their game and added a fourth after 17mins when a Klessa-Smith shot was again fumbled by the keeper and Beaman followed up bundling the ball into the net.

Next game is a tricky tie away at Cobra (Dagenham)

Man-of-the-Match: Price

Under 8

Under 8 Tigers Sponsored by May Interior Ltd

Grays Athletic Tigers 0 Corringham Cosmos Utd 0

A really great game dispite no goals with the play going from end to end and both teams having some great chances

Man of the Match: Tiger(Zac)

Grays Athletic Under 8 Lions (sponsored by Frankie and Benny‘s Lakeside)

Grays Athletic U8 Lions 8 Dunton Dynamos 1
Goalscorers: Ben.W (3) Samuel (3) Ben.O Harry.

Grays played another outstanding game today by working as a team and passing the ball.

Ben.W opened up the scoring with a great goal only 30 seconds in, Samuel followed this within a few minutes, scoring his first, this was followed by his second shortly after. The boys continued to pressure Dunton, 10 minutes in Ben.O scores our 4th. Just before half time Samuel got his hat trick, making it 5 - 0.

Grays came out in the second half still applying the pressure which got Ben.W his second, our 6th. Dunton kept their heads high and nicked a goal back. Grays responded and went straight up the other end but Dunton hand balled in the penalty area which got us a penalty, Ben.W tepped up to take the penalty which went staight down the middle and in the back of the net, getting Ben.W his hat trick. Harry finished off the coring with a nice goal 5 minutes before the end, making it 8 - 1.

What an excellent game and nice result, keep up the hard work boys. well done.

Under 7

Grays Athletic 2 Dunton Dynamos 2

Goalscorers: Billy, Jack

Dunton started strong on Sunday, scoring just five minutes into the game, blasting a great goal into the top right hand corner. Liam, the keeper was so unlucky not to save it as not many get passed him, they then had another chance but it was struck of the line by Alfie and cleared by James.

This made Grays stand up and pay attention, they kept the pressure on and won a penalty. The penalty was taken by our striker Billy and the keeper made a great save, but it rebounded off his arms only to fall to Billys feet, driving it into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 at half time.

2nd half Dunton Dynamos came out on the attack but, Elliot and Mehmet kept order and strength in defence, Dunton then scored from a corner. Grays kept the pressure on, the ball fell to Tyler onto Connar and he pushed it through the midfield where Jack took it, turned dribbled and drilled it into the bottom corner, a great and fair game ending it 2 -2.

Man of the Match: Tyler

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Results

Under 16

Chelmsford League

Grays Athletic U16A 1 Brentwood Athletic U16A 0
Goalscorer: Ogunseye

A good performance from the whole team and great to win two games back to back. Well done boys.

Match balls sponsored by Night Shift Road Show 01375 858724

Grays Athletic U16B 0 Leaside Colts 0

Grays Athletic U16b Played their best football of the season but were unable to put the ball in to the back of the net.

Man of the Match: Halford

Under 15

Chelmsford League

Grays Athletic 1 Roneo Colts 8
Goalscorer: Johnson

A very poor first half performance by Grays Athletic left themselves with a mountain to climb in the second half, they never really looked in the game.

Under 10

Echo League Trent Division

Woodford Youth 1 Grays Athletic 1
Goalscorer: Klessa-Smith.

The encounter today was a fiery one and the boys did well to come back and get an equaliser for the draw.
The pitch played well considering the rainfall we have had, but Woodford were a different proposition to the team we trounced 9-1 at home.
The first half was nip and tuck with Grays having numerous chances to score but a combination of the excellent Woodford keeper and the crossbar kept Grays out and the score was a blank at half-time.

Whatever the Woodford manager said to his team at half-time was concerning as they came out for the second half with an over-aggressive attitude , which unfortunately the Woodford referee failed to control. The referee in fact seemed to be controlled by the manager as he often looked round before making a decision. Two blatant decisions went against us, one a save from the opposing keeper outside the area and a stone-walled penalty after Price was brought down. Our keeper Dale was kicked by the Woodford striker who made no effort to get the ball and then a brawl started by the Woodford defender led to punches being thrown at Klessa-Smith. The same 2 players clashed again minutes later and a late lunge by the same Woodford player led to Klessa-Smith being carried off. The referee failed to control the game and turned a blind-eye to all the on-field events.

Back to the game and Woodford scored first after a scramble in our box and the ball was deemed to go over the line although it seemed dubious from our view. Klessa-Smith secured a point scoring direct from a corner with 3 minutes to go. What a shame that what should have been a good sporting encounter was turned into a farce. Thankfully this will be the last time that the teams meet this year and hopefully again next year if we gain promotion.

Man-of-the-Match: Bearman

Under 8

Grays Athletic Under 8 Lions (sponsored by Frankie and Benny's Lakeside)

Grays Athletic Lions 4 Copeland Colts “A” 0
Goalscorers: Ben.O(3), Wesley

Grays played another fantastic game this week and game out with a great win.
Ben.O opened the scoring with a goal about 2 minutes in and followed this with two more making it 3 - 0 within 8 minutes, making the first hat trick out of any of our boys this season. Wesley put another goal in the back of the net within a few minutes making it 4 - 0.
The boys went into the second half really confident and had some great chances, hiting the post, puting it wide and the keeper making some great saves but were unable to bag any more goals. The boys defended well and Charlie pulled off some great saves and kept another clean sheet.

well done boy‘s keep up the hard work.

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Results

Under 16

Chelmsford League

Ockendon Rhinos 3 Grays Athletic “B” 1
Goalscorer: (o.g.)

A well thought game by Grays but the end result didn‘t reflect the hard work put in

Man Of The Match: Payne

Perry Street 2 Grays Athletic “A” 7
Goalscorers: Dixon(3), Wade(2), Tsanga, Karidza
Match balls sponsored by Night Shift Roadshow 01375 858724.

Absolutely superb first half gave us a 5-0 lead at half time., a bit of complacency set in during the second half, but we were still unlucky not to have won by a bigger margin.

Our regular goalkeeper was unavailable today so our second goalie, Mayes, played instead and gave a good account of himself. Well done to the whole team

Under 15

Chelmsford League

Weald Bassett 6 Grays Athletic 0

Grays Athletic fell to yet another defeat, the game was played on what must be the smallest and narrowest pitch in the league, the distance from the corner flag to the 18yd box is less than 6ft, the first half was a fairly even affair but Grays were left wondering after missing several chances, in the second half Weald Bassett took control of the game and made Grays pay.

Under 10

Echo League Trent Division

Grays Athletic 4 Senrab 0
Goalscorers: Klessa-Smith(2), Price, S.Pumfrett

This top-of-the league encounter saw the boys entertain a strong Senrab side from East London who had the best defensive record in the league , conceding only 8 goals all season.

The first half was a tough encounter with tackles flying in from both teams but Grays had the best of the possession with half-chances from Price and Edmunds going wide of the goal. Stand-in keeper Le^Rogers had little to do but when called upon dealt with everything superbly.

The second half was a complete turnaround and the boys upped their game immensely. Grays first came on 10 mins when Price lobbed the keeper from 20 yards after the ball was won by Le^Rogers (now out on pitch) in the centre circle. 7 minutes later the lead was doubled when Bearman won a midfield tackle and passed to Price whose
blocked shot was struck home by Klessa-Smith. It was 3-0 in injury time when an Edmunds cross was thumped under the advancing keeper by S.Pumfrett. With the final whistle almost upon us Klessa-Smith grabbed the fourth after a great passing move by Price and Edmunds.

The next game is away to Woodford Youth who are looking for revenge after their 9-1 thumping earlier in the season

Man of the Match: Potter

Thundermite League

Grays Athletic Blue 5 Billericay Youth 0
Goalscorers: Birch(2), Jex(2), Gould

Under 8

Grays Athletic Tigers 4 Wickford Town Pumas 1
Goalscorers: Daniel(2), Lewis(2)

Grays had a great start back after Christmas with a 4-1 win over Wickford.
Lewis scored the first goal in the first half but Wickford came back at us scoring in the second half Grays again came out flying with 2 goals from Daniel and a second from Lewis.
Well done to all the boys

Man of the Match: Jack

Grays Athletic U8 Lions (sponsored by Frankie and Benny's Lakeside)

Grays Athletic Lions 2 Copeland Colts “A” 1
Goalscorers: Samuel, Ben.W

Grays played their first game back after christmas and continued where they left off by winning 2-1.

Samuel opened up the scoring five minutes into the first half with Ben.W scoring the second two minutes later.

Grays controlled the whole of the first half and kept Copeland Colts in their own half.

In the second half Copeland Colts came out fighting, ten minutes into the second half Copeland Colts scored, but Grays kept their heads high and battled to win the game.

Well done boys, keep up the hard work.

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Results

Under 18

Eastern Junior Alliance South West

Grays Athletic v Burnham Ramblers (Postponed)

Under 16

Chelmsford League

Grays Athletic “A” 1 Brentwood Athletic “B” 4
Goalscorer: Lewis

Absolute superb football played in the first half and should have been at least 5-1 up by half time instead of 1-1. We then seemed to totally switch off in the second half.

Eastern Junior Alliance Southern

Madon Town 1 Grays Athletic 0

Under 15

Chelmsford League

Grays Athletic 1 Stanford Wanderers 6
Goalscorer: Johnson

Grays Athletic‘s start to the post Christmas campaign got of to a dire start, in a game that was lived up to the old cliche of being a game of two halves Grays never really got out of the blocks in the first half and Stanford totally dominated the game putting 5 past the keeper.

The second half saw Grays change formation and they started to play some good football but never really looked to threaten Stanford keeper, they did however defend well and stopped Stanford from dominating in the area as they had in the first half. Grays got a consolation goal through Johnson but Stanford answered with a goal of their own to take the game 6-1

Eastern Junior Alliance West

Cornard United 4 Grays Athletic 1

Under 14

Eastern Junior Alliance Southern Central

Chelmsford City 0 Grays Athletic 0

Under 10

Echo League Trent Division

Barn Sports “A” 0 Grays Athletic 7

Goalscorers: Price (hat-trick), Klessa-Smith, Stopher, Edmunds and S.Pumfrett.

After an enforced 5 week break (due to 2 postponed matches and the xmas period) the boys travelled to Hornchurch looking for 3 points to keep them at the top of the table.

Any worries we had were quickly put to rest with a 6 goal blitz in the first half, after 7 minutes Bearman and Klessa-Smith played a 1-2 with Klessa-Smith's cross going in after the keeper fumbled. Two minutes later Edmunds found the top corner after a great run and cross by Bearman. Eleven minutes in and it was 3-0 after a mazy run by Price who then finished neatly. Four minutes later a Klessa-Smith throw in was headed on by Bearman and S.Pumfrett was in the box to volley a left foot shot into the bottom corner.Stopher then added a fifth after 18 minutes when a neat 1-2 with S.Pumfrett was struck low and hard into the net. Price then made it six on the stroke of half-time with another twisting run.

Barn Sports came out for the second half and were more defensive leaving more players back and Grays found it hard to break them down. Price though grabbed his hat-trick near the end after a good surging run and cross by Stopher down the left. His cross found Klessa-Smith in the middle but his shot was saved and Price tapped it in at the back post.

Next game is at Home to 4th placed Senrab.

Men-of-the-Match: Stopher and Potter

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We are pleased to annouce that Lewis Goldstone has signed from Lee Chaple, Lewis who is a striker, is a player that we tried to sign for Grays at the start of the season.

He will be a great asset to the squad, Lewis shows a excellent work rate and a good eye for goal, we wish the very best of luck at Grays Athletic.

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