Soccer stories don’t get much better than the sizzler at the New Rec ground on Saturday afternoon.
Five goals, an open and exciting game and a happy crowd was the reward for runaway Conference South league leaders Grays at their FA Trophy quarter final outing.
It’s not often that teams at this level get to boast of thrashing a side who held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. But this was the talk of the Grays bar and various town pubs that evening.
The New Rec was packed with 1,822 fans including close to 300 travelling Exeter supporters— for the game against Alex lnglethorpe’s Conference National side. And the visitors were made to look pedestrian by Grays’ quality which was evident throughout the team.
From the whistle Grays looked up for the challenge, although it was visitors’ Andy Taylor and Dean Devine who initially tested the Grays keeper. But man of the match Dennis Oli soon began to work his magic for Grays., tricking himself into chances and making the visitors defence look sluggish.
A tense opening 20 minutes finally paid off for hard-pressing Grays who took the advantage in the 23rd thanks to a play that involved several Blues.
Big Tony Battersby managed to get or the end of a Mitchell Cole cross. And his flick allowed Cole to selflessly play on Gary Hooper. Hooper pushed the ball past the flailing Paul Jones in the visitors’ goalmouth.
Hardly had the home fans’ celebrations ceased than Grays doubled their advantage. Less than two minutes after the first strike Battersby was involved again, collecting skipper Stuart Thurgood’s pass and sneaking the bal through to Oli. The midfielder had one go, but it sprung out and his second attempt crossed the line.
Exeter had their chances - including heart-stopping three-against-two chance which was blundered by Sean Devine.
In an end-to-end period of play there were chances in both goalmouths, but again and again it was defender Joe Bruce whose ability to dispossess and immediately circulate the ball, setting up chance after chance that was the difference.
Captain Thurgood was on fire too, scrapping for every free ball, never resting and then running at defenders like a shaven-headed terrier after the post-man. He was the playmaker for Oli who should perhaps have scored when he clattered in a shot which Jones just managed to fall on to thwart the charging midfielder.
When Grays keeper Ashley Bayes sprinted out onto the pitch for the second half his first move was a surprise to everyone. He sprinted to the away fans end and embrace several smiling visitors.
As a former Exeter City guardian the now-Blues keeper wanted to acknowledge his old club and the good-natured expression of friendliness underlines the spirit of play and impeccable behaviour of both sets of fans.
With Mark Stimson watching intently – presumably inwardly delighted at his team’s first 45 display – Grays never looked like being deposed in the second.
And the third goal – which came in the 56th minute – put the matter beyond serious doubt. Blues defender John Nutter stepped up his game in the second, while it was the diminutive blond John Martin who swerved, then stabbed the ball to Oli allowing the striker to side foot home the next.
Stung by the manner of their impending defeat Grecian boss Alex Inglethorpe made drastic changes, as Jake Edwards sprinted on for the lacklustre Steve Flack while a hobbling Marcus Martin was replaced by Gareth Sheldon, the player who eventually scored the visitors only goal.
Stimson countered by taking off Oli replacing him with Viii Powell while Steve West was on for Battersby whose second half performance did not match the creativeness of his muscular and creative first half display.
The chances came thick and fast. Mitchell Cole seeing his shot thwarted by Jones, while Powell rose to nod in what looked to be a great chance, but it whizzed an inch over the crossbar.
It looked to have been four for Blues when Cole crossed and Hooper header - but the ball only ruffled the side netting.
Exeter reclaimed a little pride with three minutes outstanding when sub Sheldon clattered in a long range scud missile which a partially sighted Bayes didn’t see in time.
The final goal of the game came deep in injury time when West used his head to put the ball into the path of Hooper, who’s low, left strike was true.
Seconds later the final whistle saw the Conference visitors embrace and congratulate their victorious opponents.
Much rubbish is spoken and written about football and the passions it arouses which are all too often expressed negatively. This was a game to lift the heart and convert even those who fail to see the point of 22 men kicking a bag of wind. If there was a criticism it would be that Exeter did not deliver the punch, creativity or ball skills expected of higher league opponents.
Exeter coach, Alex Inglethorpe, summed it after the match: “If we had got an early goal things might have been different. But they were the better team on the day and really deserved their win. Good luck to them.”
Report by Frazer Clark
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the report
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