Starting Line-ups
Nicky Eyre
John Nutter
Jamie Stuart
Lee Matthews
Joe Bruce
John Martin
Tom Williamson
Glenn Poole
Stuart Thurgood
Dennis Oli
Aaron McLean

Nikki Bull
Matt Somner
Greg Heald
John Brough
Darren Barnard
Nick Crittendon
Steve Watson
Ryan Scott
Gary Holloway
Brian Tinnion
Tim Sills

Substitutes
Ashley Bayes
Andy Sambrook
Ade Olayinka
Gary Hooper
Jamie Slabber

Dan Weait
Dave Winfield
Ahmed Deen
Hassan Sulaiman
Matt Gearing

Substitutions
Jamie Slabber -> Tom Williamson (103)
Gary Hooper -> Aaron McLean (105)
Ade Olayinka -> Dennis Oli (119)

Hassan Sulaiman -> Stephen Dawson
Matt Gearing -> Brian Tinnion

Match report |
Shots fired out by Poole

A last-gasp strike from Glenn Poole ensured Grays didn't have to rely on the lottery of penalties to keep their defence of the FA Trophy alive.

After 118 minutes of Tuesday's stalemate it seemed almost inevitable that Blues first crack at defending the Trophy would be decided in exactly the same fashion in which they won it.

But, if that was the case, Poole clearly hadn't read the script because, with just two minutes until a shoot-out, the ex-Thurrock man arrived right on cue to slide the ball home after Gary Hooper's effort had been brilliantly saved by Nikki Bull.

There can be no doubt that Grays deserved the win after they dominated a visibly tiring Aldershot side throughout the extra-time period and were the better side throughout the 90 minutes, without ever creating a clear-cut opportunity.

At the heart of Blues performance was their inspirational skipper, Stuart Thurgood, who, on his return from suspension, showed just why his manager calls him the best signing he has ever made.

The 24-year-old never shirked a challenge against opponents who tried every trick in the book to rattle him and he was the fulcrum for every Grays move forward.

It was fitting that it was his defence-splitting pass that created Poole's winner and his manager had nothing but praise for his star midfielder after the game.

Mark Stimson said: Stuart was outstanding tonight and I don't know where he got it from. Last week he did two double sessions with a fitness coach with Jamie Slabber and Andy Sambrook and they all really tested themselves. They did a boxing circuit, a lot of punch bag work, skipping and that sort of thing and it looks like it helped. He had a rest on Saturday because of his suspension, looked after himself properly and he's come out tonight and was outstanding.

He's a great captain, he loves a challenge and someone's in his face he likes to try to get the better of them and that's when you really find out who your winners are.

On the win Stimson added: It wasn't the prettiest of games but we got the result. I think if any team was trying to play football out there it was definitely us. There were some good moves in the box without getting the final ball into the box and creating chances. But overall I'm very pleased.

Despite having Thurgood, Sambrook and Slabber all back from suspension, Thurgood was the only man who returned to the Grays starting line-up for the game. Lee Matthews came in for the suspended Stevland Angus in the only other change.

After Saturday's performance which culminated in Angus seeing red for punching Brian Tinnion, it was no surprise that an element of bad blood was carried over into the replay.

Blues Joe Bruce and Shots Steve Watson and Ryan Scott all found themselves in referee Andy Sainsbury's notebook in the opening half with both sides only creating one real chance apiece.

Thurgood drove from midfield and dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box for Grays while, at the other end, Greg Heald headed a Tinnion free-kick marginally past the post minutes before the interval.

The second half was delayed for five minutes when a swollen ankle forced Mr Sainsbury to step down from refereeing duties and be replaces by his assistant Shawn Comerford.

When the game did restart Heald headed another good chance for the visitors straight into the arms of Nicky Eyre before a flurry of chances kick-started the game into life.

Aaron McLean twice went close to netting against his former club when he first fired into the side-netting, after being released by Oli, and then headed straight at Bull after reminding his old team mates exactly why the nicknamed him spring .

From Bulls' clearance, Aldershot broke and Tim Sills exchanged passes with Nick Crittendon before heading a great chance straight at Eyre.

With seven minutes to go until extra time, Bull was forced to make the save of the game to repel a Poole drive from he edge of the box to keep his side in the match.

Stimson introduced another ex-Shot Jamie Slabber and Gary Hooper during the extra time period where Blues showed by far the superior fitness levels a factor that ultimately led to Grays victory.

Poole tried harder than anyone to break the deadlock as three times he went close with efforts from distance and it was a fitting reward that he ultimately won the game for his side.

With the Shots defenders dead on their feet, the ball was swept up to Thurgood who spun and played a perfectly weighted ball through to Gary Hooper.

The 17-year-old, who had made a habit of scoring winners this season, looked odds on to score when he outpaced John Brough but Bull made a fantastic save to parry Hooper's effort away, only to see Poole beat a host of tiring defenders to turn the ball home.

Grays defence of their trophy doesn't get any easier in the next round when they will travel to the Midlands to face fellow Conference side Kidderminster Harriers.

Stimson said: It could have been an easier tie. Some people have questioned how seriously we take this competition but we are taking it seriously because we are the holders and we take pride in that.

Report by Ryan Goad
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the match report