Blues on the brink
Grays’ hopes of winning a second straight FA Trophy hang in the balance after they slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Exeter in their semi-final first leg at St James Park.
After leading at the interval courtesy of a Jamie Slabber strike, Blues slumped in the second period as headed goals from Chris Todd and Lee Phillips gave the hosts a slender advantage to take with them to the New Rec.
Despite the defeat, Blues boss, Mark Stimson, remained upbeat afterwards claiming his side still have a great chance of reaching the Upton Park final and retaining the Trophy they won last May.
He said: “I’m a little bit disappointed with the result having gone 1-0 up but overall the game is still alive. I said beforehand that if we can still be in contention after the first leg then we will have a chance and that’s what’s happened.
”I’m sure it will be a great game next week. We’ll have Aaron McLean back fir because he’s been struggling all week and only played 70 odd minutes today. Hopefully we can get the pitch in good condition and play like we are capable of playing.”
Stimson made two changes from the side that drew with Woking the week before with Andy Sambrook replacing the injured Cameron Mawer at right back and the keeper merry-go-round continued as Ashley Bayes returned in place of Nicky Eyre.
Stimson explained: “We knew how big this game was and how big the crowd would be and Ashley’s been here and done it before.
”I thought he played well. I haven’t seen the tape yet but I don’t think he could be blamed for either of the goals.”
As is so often the case in semi-finals, the game was far from a classic with both teams struggling to hit top form though it has to be said neither side was helped by a gusting wind.
After a scrappy opening period, Grays settled quickest and with Stuart Thurgood bossing the midfield in the opening 45 minutes that looked the superior side.
Having said that they found it difficult to penetrate a dogged Grecians backline, which had clearly done it’s home work and singled out Michael Kightly as the danger-man.
The ex-Southend man, who has been on fire in recent weeks, was denied any space by the home side who had left back Billy Jones and Jon Challinor doubling up on him wherever possible.
Blues’ most likely route to goal was from the other side of the pitch, through the boot of Glenn Poole, whose wicked free kicks caused panic in the hosts’ defence.
Jamie Stuart, with a prod at goal that was well blocked and Aaron McLean, with a deft flick of the head, came desperately close to capitalising on a couple of Poole deliveries while at the other end, Exeter’s best chances came from range.
Andy Taylor struck a fantastic half-volley from the edge of the box that Bayes had given up long before it struck his upright and the same man flashed a shot wide after he arrived late on Jones’ centre.
But it was Blues who got their noses in front 11 minutes before half time and deservedly so – though it did come in uncharacteristically direct fashion.
Bayes’ huge kick up-field caught the Grecians back line sleeping and Slabber was able to steal in unattended to lob Paul Jones and notch up his 13th goal of the season.
The second half opened in much the same vein with Blues looking well in control and seemingly coasting to a first-leg advantage until Grecians boss, Alex Ingelthorpe, was forced into making changes.
The cumbersome veteran Steve Flack, who Stuart and Christian Hanson had in their pockets all afternoon, was given the hook and replaced by Craig Farrell and the ex-Leeds trainee immediately struck up a dangerous partnership with lee Phillips.
The paid isolated Hanson who struggled on numerous occasions to keep up with the fleet-footed duo with Phillips – who Stimson called the best striker in the league – looking particularly potent.
On one occasion he ran from deep inside his own half past Hanson, who was doing his best walking through treacle impression, and clear through on goal until Stuart came to the rescue and made a last-ditch intervention.
The hosts’ increasing pressure paid off when they equalised mid-way through the half though the Grays management will be wondering how Jones’ poorly-struck corner managed to travel all the way across the face of goal to stand-in skipper Chris Todd, who stooped to head home from close range.
Suddenly the Grecians were first to every second ball as Thurgood became over-run in midfield.
Stimson threw on the more physical Ade Olayinka in place of John Martin to try and shore up the midfield but Exeter had built up a read head of steam and it wasn’t a real surprise when they grabbed the winner 14 minutes before time.
Sub Wayne Carlisle beat John Nutter on the right and whipped a delightful ball in to the back post where Phillips out-jumped Sambrook and thumped a header past Bayes.
Poole did have a golden chance to equalise when a Stuart header found him alone in the box butt he ex-Thurrock man couldn’t direct his header past Jones who did well to palm the ball over.
But it was the hosts who looked the most likely to score again before the final whistle with Carlisle and Dean Moxey both going desperately close to swinging the balance very much in Exeter’s favour.
3-1 would have left Grays with a mountain to climb but just the one goal deficit means there’s everything to play for at the New Rec and Blues will fancy their chances.
Report by Ryan Goad
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the match report
|