BLUES EDGE THROUGH

Looking to right the wrongs of a below-par performance last week in the FA Trophy, Blues faced Holland Sports on a cold Wednesday night at Parkside. Blues started with intent, dominating possession in the early exchanges and pressing high when they lost the ball, keeping Holland pinned in their own half. The pressure told as a bundling ball just outside the area somehow made it through to Michael Pindy, who fired just wide of the post when one on one with keeper Nick Wilson.

Another opportunity then arose as the ball was played to Manny Ogunrinde on the right flank. The darting winger played a quick one-two with Steve King rolled off his defender and finding himself with the keeper to beat, Ogunrinde had the patience to send Wilson the wrong way, finishing with aplomb, giving Grays a deserved lead on seven minutes.

Nathan Fox and Macauley Joynes continued to cause havoc for the tracking wingers of Holland, getting in behind countless times , however, either the final ball was lacking or there was a dearth of willing runners into the opposition box.

More good work down the right from Blues found Ogunrinde who released George Purcell in space with his back to goal. Rather than turn, he laid the ball off to Pindy, whose shot was tame and straight into Wilson’s waiting arms.

After the early pressure, Grays’ impatience to double their lead started to influence their game. Passing round the back with no options and needlessly making overhit passes over the top became a common theme, making Holland’s defensive job a lot easier.
It wasn’t until late in the first half that Blues increased the tempo. Fox’s determination with a brave header won the ball just outside the Holland box. As he darted towards goal, he put a delightful ball in for George Purcell who opened his body up but directed the ball straight at Wilson who did well to block with his feet, the rebound flew in the air back to Purcell who chose to head across goal rather than have a go himself, allowing the scrambling defence to clear the danger.

Overall, a positive first half for the Blues in which their possession game limited Holland to very few counter-attacking chances leaving Connor Pearce as a watching spectator.
The visitors willingness to sit back and absorb pressure seemed to suit Blues for the most part. Unfortunately for Blues they would rue the chances they missed in the first half, as the tide swiftly turned in Holland’s favour.

HT 1-0

For the opening minutes, it was more of the same from Grays, a lot of possession with a lack of creativity going forward. It led to a lot of sideways passing around the back, with the final pass forward lacking. Holland started to get more of the ball in the second half, but still looked relatively uncomfortable playing out from the back. On one occasion, Ogunrinde’s pressure on the ball enabled him to win the ball back and drill a low cross, across the goal. With the goal gaping, however, Mitch Hahn somehow put the ball wide from a few yards out.

Holland’s increased presence in the game then told as they managed to win a corner with their first real foray into Blues half. With a brilliant ball in, Blues lack of communication and intent came to haunt them, with no one taking responsibility the ball was bundled in at the back post by Ryan Harrington on 57 minutes.

The goal gave Holland a much-needed boost of confidence, and with that they kicked on and gave it a go. Three minutes after their equaliser the ball was worked to the right, and as the right winger sized up the defence, a quick step-over gave him an inch of space, that was all he needed, as he drilled a low cross into Steve Gaton, who thundered the ball towards goal. Connor Pearce looked to have spectacularly kept it out, but the ball somehow bounced into the roof of the net, from only Holland’s second shot in the entire game.

Holland looked to hold onto their slim lead and sit back. Similar to the first half, their compact set-up made it hard to break down, and the Blues found it difficult to create chances.

Nearing the 70th minute, Ogunrinde slid the ball through to Hahn after a good run, who slid the ball past the keeper, but just as it looked destined for the far post it rebounded off and into the hands of the grateful Wilson.
The second half proved to be a much more balanced affair, as Holland then created their third chance of the game, when Jamey Williams raced forward, with no Blues player tracking back, he found himself one on one with Pearce. With an abundance of time, however, he put the ball inches wide of the far post. He really should have scored and put the game beyond Blues and he knew it, thumping the ground in despair.

It then came to the closing moments, with Holland looking to close out a hard-fought win against a jaded Grays side. As they threw men forward, the best chance of the second half came about for the Blues. King knocked the ball through to Purcell on the left-hand-side of the area. As he darted forwards, he slid the ball across goal, with the goalkeeper left stranded. From one or two yards out, however, Ogunrinde somehow put the ball wide at the far post. It summed up Grays’ night one which they did not have the final touch it seemed. However, on the very last play of the day, the ball was hoofed forward from the back for one last roll of the dice. After a few scrappy clearances , the ball found its way to King, who’s deflected effort found its way over the goalkeeper and into the top left corner. Celebrations ensued from the Grays players, more out of relief than happiness.

FT. 2-2.

The game then went to penalties. After exchanging the first few penalties with some solid efforts, Holland’s captain stepped up to make it 2-2. However, with a tame effort to the keeper’s left at a comfortable height Pearce parried the ball away. Each team then scored leaving it up to Stanley Muguo to win the game from the spot, as the fifth and final taker. He comfortably sent Wilson the wrong way, slotting the ball to the right-hand-side of the goal. Subdued celebrations ensued, as Grays knew they had got away with one there, as a Holland side who proved difficult to beat in the first half, surprised Grays and nearly won the tie.
Grays win 5-3 on penalties.

Pearce, Fox (Adebiyi), Joynes, Miller, King, Clark, Kayembe (Muguo), Hahn, Pindy ( Carlos) Ogunrinde, Purcell

Subs not used Sambridge; McQueen