In their final pre-season encounter, Grays Ath overcame a spirited Harlow Town to record their fifth win out of seven friendlies, with a gutsy display and some quality football, despite playing the second half with ten men.
Unlike at Welwyn on Tuesday, Blues were quick out of the blocks and should have taken the lead in the third minute when Brian Moses failed to make any contact with a delightful cross from Correy Davidson. Soon after Aron Gordon, who was the source of much of Blues’ good work all afternoon, went on one of his trademark runs, but found no taker on the end of his ball across the goal. Davidson and Gordon then soon combined to bring a finger-tip save from Harlow keeper, Robert Horgan. The visitors then had their first clear chance, when Haihi Berchche broke clean through the Grays defence, bringing a good save from Danny Sambridge.
But on 16 minutes, Rob Clark found Gordon on the right with a fine long pass. He fed Courteney Homans who’s cross was volleyed in from close range by Davidson for a 1-0 lead.
And it was soon 2-0, when this time from a long Sambridge clearance, Homans laid the ball off to Gordon, who jinked his way into the box and curled a shot passed the keeper’s dive.
Then, following a scramble in the Harlow penalty area, fans were treated to the sight of a Geoff Okonkwo bicycle kick, which would surely have been goal of the season had it hit the back of the net. Sambridge was called into action again just after the half hour mark, when following a Harlow corner, Grays failed to clear their lines and with the ball goalbound, the Blues keeper tipped the shot over the bar.
Just before the half-time whistle, Blues discipline sadly let them down for the third game in a row, with another dust-up involving the majority of the players, following an off-the-ball incident that no-one, including the officials, seemed to witness. But that didn’t prevent the referee deciding to show Brian Moses a red card for his part in the fracas.
Half time: Grays Ath 2 v 0 Harlow Town
The second half was a much quieter affair, with little worthy of attention going into your reporter’s notebook. That said, Grays played with great control and it was often difficult to remember that they were a side with ten men. But Harlow continued to defend resolutely, denying Blues many clear-cut chances. Davidson hit a post from a narrow angle after evading several challenges in the box. Subs Josh Osude, as ever, caused the opposition defence real problems with his pace and Kieron Jones worked some excellent space between the lines. And it was the latter who ran the length of the pitch before forcing Horgan into another good save.
It took Harlow until late in the half before offering serious threat to the Grays goal, when a fine run and shot from sub, Callum Berg, came back off a post.
The final act came deep into stoppage time, when Jones found Osude who broke clean through the line and was brought down by the keeper before having the chance to get his shot away. Inexplicably, the referee only deemed the offence worthy of a yellow card, and of course, he then saved Osude’s resultant penalty.
So, pre-season draws to a close, with the real action starting next week away at Coggeshall Utd. Manager Lewis Dark can generally be pleased with how his squad of old and new players has gelled, with fitness levels evidently on the up, the forward line looking sharp and options in defence for the long season ahead.
Come on you Blues !
Final score: Grays Ath 2 v 0 Harlow Town