GRAYS ATHLETIC 1st TEAM
Matches
Wed 06 Nov 2019  ·  The FA Trophy 19-20
Grays Athletic Football Club
GRAYS ATHLETIC 1st TEAM
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1
Bedfont Sports
BLUES SCORN SECOND BITE OF THE CHERRY

BLUES SCORN SECOND BITE OF THE CHERRY

GAFC OFFICIAL NEWS13 Oct 2019 - 08:25
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Bedfont win replayed tie writes The Mariner

Blues threw away the chance of making amends for their abject surrender in the previous match with Bedfont Sports when they turned in another languid display in this replayed tie. Once again Bedfont capitalised on shoddy defending to post an early lead leaving Blues to chase the game much as they have done in recent weeks. Yes Bedfont keeper Dimitrios Kyriatzis pulled of some remarkable saves , and yes the woodwork came to the visitors rescue, and yes the squad has been beset by injuries but Blues have enough quality to have come back from the early reverse and go on to win the tie . That they didn't was down to a lack of direction, in some cases it seemed lack of a will to win , and a careless and slapdash approach to the game , playing as individuals not as a team. There is an old saying in football; "Hard work beats talent if talent doesn't work hard" and that was never more true than last night. Bedfont were quicker to the ball, attacked the ball in the box when defending and attacking, in contrast to Blues who did neither seemingly waiting for something to happen

It was a full fifty minutes before Jim Cooper emerged from the dressing room after the game no doubt after an inquest as to why a team that was playing with verve and pace is now ponderous and reverting to launching long balls into the opponents half with little effect. No one would accuse a player of not giving their best on the field but the squad needs to reflect on recent performances look at their own performances, only then will there be an upturn in fortunes.

As for the football Blues made an encouraging start with Michael Pindy the catalyst for most of their good work, he looked bright and pacy whipping in a menacing low cross early on just eluding Joao Carlos.

Bedfont rarely threatened in these opening minutes but their first meaningful attack brought the opening goal after 11 minutes. A quick break saw the ball dropped in behind Jack McQueen, a first time cross was played to the near post where Ezekiel Bademosi reacted quickly running across Connor Martin and Steve King to divert the ball past an exposed Danny Sambridge.

Blues replied when Luke Callander thought he'd brought Blues level when he wriggled free, turning he sent in a rasping drive bringing the best out of Kyriatzis somehow turning the ball over. Mitch Hahn then provided a chance for Carlos but his header from the cross sailed over.

The visitors were happy to sit and defend their lead but when they broke free of their shackles they did with pace and menace looking to release the pacy Andy Ali who caused problems with his direct running throughout the evening. Blues play though was slow ponderous with the ball played laterally or aimlessly pumped into the opposing box without any real purpose allowing Bedfont to clear the danger.

Pindy still plying his trade out on the flank sent in another quality low cross met by King who unleashed a screamer that Kyriatzis somehow managed to save . Despite the pressure Blues failed to create a clear goal scoring opportunity as half time approached with Bedfont happy to go in a goal to the good.

HT 0-1

It was a scrappy start to the second period with neither craft or inventiveness to excite the crowd, Bedfont though were shading possession resorting to some questionable time wasting and robust challenges succeeding in blunting Blues forward progress.

After a period of relative stalemate Blues wrestled the initiative and started to put pressure on the visitors goal but too much of their work lacked direction, similar to the first period when the ball was launched into the box in the hope of a knockdown rather than working an opening. Callander had a measure of success flicking the ball on with is head but Blues attackers were static and failing to latch on to the ball.

Bedfont continued to work hard hunting in packs to close down Blues space .To illustrate the contrast in approach when Blues won a throw deep in their own half the visitors, back line pushed over the hallway line pushing their midfield forward to smother space, something Blues failed to do throughout the evening.

The final twenty minutes saw Blues lay siege to the Bedfont goal , Hahn hit the post from a free kick and forced another save for the keeper from another free kick which were becoming more frequent as the visitors challenges became more agricultural so much so that Michael Kinsella received a red after a second cynical challenge.

In the dying minutes it looked like Pindy may have saved the day for Blues when a slick interchange of passes with sub Manny Ogunrinde found him inside he six yard box where he had the opportunity to pass the ball into the net but he chose to put more power into his shot and miscued badly the ball drifting past the upright.

That final and probably the most clear cut opportunity of the night summed up Blues evening and the chance of progressing through to the next round , a match that may be a watershed in Blues season. Looking on the bright side they still sit in fourth place in the league table but only a marked improvement in form and commitment will keep them there and in the promotion race.

Sambridge , McQueen, Joynes, King, Muguo, Martin(Ogunrinde 46), Pindy, Hahn (Clark 84),Dark, Callander (Adebiyi 67), Carlos

Subs not used ; Pearce, Miller, Kayembe

Match details

Match date

Wed 06 Nov 2019

Kickoff

19:45

Attendance

111

Competition

The FA Trophy 19-20
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

HOME SHIRT SPONSOR - GRIFFIN
Away Kit Sponsor - Grays Service Station
SHIRT SPONSOR - BOOM BATTLE BAR
Home Kit Sponsor - SGR Plumbing & Heating Ltd
SHIRT SPONSOR - LMC MOTOR GROUP
PitchingIn Isthmian league 2020/21 - PitchingIn Isthmian League 2023/24
CLUB SPONSOR - Cumberland Packaging Ltd
League Sponsors - Velocity
League Sponsors  - BlueFin Sports
League Sponsors - Mitchells Travel
League Sponsors - Anderson Travel
league Sponsors - Kappa
League Sponsors - Samba
league Sponsors - Crowdfunder
Matchball Provider - Mitre
League Sponsors - Reposs
league Sponsors - Vita Risk Solutions
Fund Raising - easyfundraising
Club Affiliation - FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION
AWAY KIT SPONSOR - Paragon
Club Charity - Max'x Foundation
CLUB SPONSOR - Acorn Decorators Merchants Ltd
CLUB SPONSOR - Amblek Ltd
CLUB SPONSOR - The Bull
CLUB SPONSOR - Charlotte's Hair Salon
CLUB SPONSOR - Coryton Commercials
CLUB SPONSOR - CM FABRICATIONS
CLUB SPONSOR - Curran Packaging
CLUB SPONSOR - Clarendon Home improvements
CLUB SPONSOR - Chadwell Village Hall
CLUB SPONSOR - Downwell Solutions Ltd
CLUB SPONSOR - ESSEX TARPAULIN
CLUB SPONSOR - Essex Wildlife Trust
CLUB SPONSOR - E.T Marine & Industrial Engineering Co.Ltd
CLUB SPONSOR - FORGET ME NOT
CLUB SPONSOR - Grayers Graphics
CLUB SPONSOR - Joseph Lamb
CLUB SPONSOR - KEMPSTERS
CLUB SPONSOR - KB COACHES
CLUB SPONSOR - K &T Tilts
CLUB SPONSOR - Mr Pickwick Fish & Chips
CLUB SPONSOR - Senator Welding & Engineering Supplies
CLUB SPONSOR - Specialised Engines Ltd
CLUB SPONSOR - Southern Drain Services Ltd
Club SPONSOR - Supreme Carpets and Blinds
CLUB SPONSOR - SHUTTERS BY SUZANNE
CLUB SPONSOR - Smiths orchard Garden centre
CLUB SPONSOR - Spire Contracts
CLUB SPONSOR - Tilbury Tiles Ltd
CLUB SPONSOR - Thurrock Hardwoods Ltd
Trainingwear  Shirt Sponsor - Upper Glass Conservatories
CLUB SPONSOR - West & Coe
CLUB SPONSOR - Z Cars Express Ltd