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04.08.2007 @ 15:00 The Recreation Ground |
Crowd: 721
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Grays Athletic
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1 - 0
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Leyton Orient
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Referee: F Graham
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Friendly-Match
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Grays put down a marker at the New Rec this afternoon with an impressive 1-0 victory against League One side Leyton Orient. With the temperature reaching 85 degrees, both teams had to be prepared to be examined under trying conditions.
The first ten minutes were marked by a series of neat passing moves by the Blues, displaying a strong sense of self belief.
Danny Kedwell was working hard, coming deep to link up with Charley Hearn who even early on showed that he can be a class apart this season.
Orient also started brightly. Twin strikers Ibehre and Gray looked strong and fast. In last season's corresponding fixture Ibehre completely outmuscled Grays.
Not this time and the tone was set as early as the seventh minute when Jon Ashton nicely marshalled the dangerous dangerous striker away from danger as he tried to pounce on a through ball.
Jamie Stuart effectively lead the back line which included Ernie Cooksey appearing at left back for the first time but as Orient started to apply the pressure Ashton and Andy Sambrook produced unforced errors.
From the sideline assistant manager Jimmy Dack implored his players to be patient and the team were greatly helped by the quality of Hearn's play as time and time again he got the team out of trouble and turned defence into attack.
In the 24th minute Melligan was booked following a nasty tackle on Grays newcomer Mark Marshall. The following Hearn free kick was met at the far post by Stuart but he headed just over.
As the half went on, Orient started to become frustrated. Time after time O's players went down with injuries. The team that gave Spurs a close examination last week looked to be struggling to meet Grays' level of commitment.
Players started to link up. Marshall wasn't having any luck but he continued to apply himself and Dennis Oli started to probe.
In the 36th minute a typical run took him past three Orient players, Kedwell moved right but the final ball didn't arrive.
Hearns started looking for Marshall and sprayed a beautiful ball across field which Marshall couldn't quite control.
Soon after Hearn made it very clear to Cooksey that he wanted more service. It was good to see a player hungry for the ball.
Hearn carried on where he left off as the second half began with a beautiful through ball, piercing the O's defence but Marshall's confidence had taken a dent in the first half and he fumbled the ball, letting the keeper gather easily.
But this was the beginning of a sustained period of pressure from the Blues as Orient found it difficult to keep pace with them.
Kedwell went close from a corner and Marshall let fly from 20 yards with the ball flying over the bar.
Only Charlie Daniels, a recent loan signing from Spurs, took Grays on. The left back produced a marvellous 70 yard run that another former left back for Tottenham must have admired in the Grays dug-out.
Reward came in the 62nd minute when sub Jack Haverson, fully recovered from Thursday's nasty collision in Pitsea when he damaged a shoulder, met Hearns' corner with a perfect glancing header that hit the post before nestling in the back of the net.
Orient tried to respond and were greatly helped as for the first time, the Blues defence started to wobble. But for all the misplaced passes and unforced errors Orient weren't able to produce a move of worth.
Hearn continued to keep his team out of trouble, one particular move that left John Terry's brother Paul flat-footed was particularly impressive.
Cooksey moved into midfield as Day and Oli went off. It was a New Rec debut for former Southend striker James Lawson and he took up where he left off from his sparkling display against Pitsea.
In the 80th minute he linked up well with Marshall as he took the ball down the right before turning Daniels, and crossing with his left.
The last chance of the game fell to Marshall. Having been totally frustrated in the first half he flourished in the second and his pace and desire could be the final piece in the puzzle before the season begins.
In the 82nd minute he let fly with a screamer from 30 yards. The appreciative Grays crowd burst into applause.
Orient couldn't respond and looked like a completely spent force. Although it was a friendly their manager must be concerned that they looked so physically and mentally fragile.
After the game Blues boss Justin Edinburgh took a measured response to the victory.
He said: "We've progressed well today. Our fitness looked good and we looked like we believed in ourselves.
"We coped well under pressure. Mark Marshall flourished in the second half and I'm particularly pleased with man of the match, Charley Hearn."
Looking to the start of the season, he said: "I'm 80 per cent sure of my starting eleven. There will be players disappointed but they are a mentally strong squad who will all fight hard for places."
"Its a very competitive league. I would say 12 teams are capable of winning it and we simply know that at the very least we have to do better than last year. At the most, we will have to wait and see."
Goal
Grays: Jack Haverson (63)
Grays Athletic Starting Lineup
Ross Flitney
Andy Sambrook
Jamie Stuart
Jon Ashton
Ernie Cooksey
Dennis Oli
Charley Hearn
Jamie Day
Mark Marshall
Aaron O'Connor
Danny Kedwell
Subs
Adam Gross -> Jamie Day (?)
James Lawson -> Dennis Oli (?)
Jack Haverson -> Jon Ashton (?)
Craig McAllister -> Danny Kedwell (?)
Leyton Orient Starting Lineup
Stuart Nelson
Stephen Purches
Alton Thelwell
Brian Saah
Aiden Palmer
JJ Melligan
Sean Thornton
Paul Terry
Wayne Corden
Wayne Gray
Jabo Ibehre
Subs
Tamika Mkandawire -> Brian Saah (46)
Charlie Daniels -> Aiden Palmer (46)
Adam Boyd -> Jabo Ibehre (46)
Adam Chambers -> Sean Thornton (61)
Glenn Morris -> Stuart Nelson (61)
Jason Demetriou -> Wayne Corden (73)
Clayton Fortune -> Alton Thelwell (79)
Report by Michael Casey
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the report
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