Penalty shoot-out gets Blues out of jail
Grays Ath 0 v 0 Faversham Town
(Grays won 4-2 on penalties)
Writes StewieG
90 minutes stalemate settled from the spot
As cup ties go this was certainly not one of the more memorable and given the club’s glittering past in the FA Trophy, this could be seen as relatively modest fare. But in a knock-out competition a win is a win and cool heads from the Blues in a penalty shoot-out sees the club into the First Round Proper of the competition in a decade. And these days, Blues fans will see this as real progress from Lewis Dark’s men.
Unlike in most cup games this season Grays came flying out of the traps and looked to impose themselves early on Faversham. Rob Clark has a goal-bound shot blocked in just the second minute and only some fine last-ditch defending prevented Aron Gordon from opening the scoring moments later. But the game became end-to-end very quickly, with Nathan Wood firing over the bar for the visitors and Alfie Bates-Giles bringing a fine close-range double save from Danny Sambridge. At the other end, Sam Bantick tested Faversham keeper, Leighton Fanshawe on several occasions, without success.
Faversham grew steadily into the game, enjoying periods of possession that were frustrating for the home fans. Winger Junior Aikhionbare was a real handful down both flanks but neither he nor anyone else seemed to be able to find the telling final pass. No-one could get on the end of a cross and shots at both ends were either high and wide or easy for both keepers to deal with.
Faversham came closest to finding the net when Jake Embery’s acrobatic bicycle kick rebounded off a post and nestled into Sambridge’s thankful grasp.

Half time: Grays Ath 0 v 0 Faversham Town

The second half was more of the same. Josh Osude’s pace was causing its usual consternation down the right but a series of attacks came to nothing. Blues almost broke the deadlock on 66 minutes when Anointed Chukwu let fly from just inside the box but the ball cannoned back off the woodwork.
In the final ten minutes both sides threw caution to the wind in search of a winner. Callum Watts had a shot deflected agonisingly wide of the post with the keeper stranded. And from the resultant corner, a scramble ended with Lewis Clark poking the ball against the outside of the other upright.
It was then Faversham’s turn to try their luck. Bates-Giles thought he had scored but Geoff Okonkwo somehow cleared off the line and soon after Sambridge produced a remarkable “Inspector Gadget” outstretched leg to deny the visitors.
And so to penalties……… Chukwu for Grays and Schafer for Faversham both netted comfortably. But then the first mistake, when Blues Rob Clark saw his spot kick saved by Fanshawe, with Embery making it 2-1 to the visitors. But then the tide turned. Osude brought the scores level before Wood blasted his attempt high over the bar. Malachi Toussaint made it 3-2 to Grays after which, despite a confident run-up, Toby Bancroft for the visitors, side-footed wide of the post. That left Callum Watts to win the tie for Grays and he beat Fanshawe comfortably for a 4-2 victory in the shoot-out.
So, after a stern examination from Faversham, Grays Ath go into the FA Trophy hat on Monday, hoping for another home draw in the First Round Proper – the furthest the club has progressed in the competition since the heady days of Conference football and unforgettable awaydays to Villa Park and Upton Park.

Final Score: Grays Ath 0 v 0 Faversham Town
(Grays Ath win 4-2 on penalties)

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Osude, Joynes, R.Clark, L.Clark, Okonkwo, Gordon, Watts, Chukwu, Hahn (Karby, 62), Bantick (Toussaint, 41)
Subs not used: Griek, Damrell, Wright