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02.08.2007 @ 19:45 The Len Salmon Stadium |
Crowd:
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Bowers & Pitsea
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1 - 6
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Grays Athletic
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Grays continued their pre-season programme with a trip to the Len Salmon Stadium in Pitsea this evening. A strong starting line-up saw new signings Jack Haverson & James Lawson take the field along with another trialist, ex-Rushden & Diamonds and Peterborough United winger Rodney Hicks.
Blues started brightly and had their first effort after just 4 minutes, following a surging run down the right flank by youngster Ashley Barnes, who delivered a great cross, only for Aaron O’Connor to knock wide of the Pitsea goal. Minutes later Seye was out-muscled to a long pass forward, although the Bowers & Pitsea striker could only shoot at the outstretched Flitney in the Grays goal. Grays then hit the bar through Rodney Hicks and O’Connor had a goal disallowed for offside, before O’Connor himself broke the deadlock on 20 minutes. A Jamie Day corner from the right was headed towards goal by new-boy James Lawson and Aaron O’Connor headed the ball into the goal at the second attempt following an initial save by Rob Small – the Bowers & Pitsea keeper.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the following few minutes, but the first half was brought to a premature end after just 35 minutes when Jack Haverson collided with the perimeter wall and suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder.
The second half started with ex-youth player Danny Baigent coming on for the injured Haverson, with Gross slotting into the centre of defence, as well as a change of goalkeeper with Knowles replacing Flitney. Grays’ second goal of the night came after 48 minutes – Lawson crossing from the right to O’Connor who finished at the near post.
Just 3 minutes later, roles were reversed as O’Connor got to the line and fired in a cross to Lawson who struck a sweet finish past the keeper to make it 3-0. After 54 minutes substitute Baigent found O’Connor in space in the area, some great footwork allowed him to turn his defender and he buried the ball into the bottom right of the goal for his hat-trick.
The fourth goal of the second half was scored by Lawson, after Hicks managed to get to the by-line and delivered a cross to the back post where Lawson met it 12 yards out.
A number of substitutions by Justin Edinburgh saw numerous youth team players take the field, and as a result the earlier neat intricate passing game became a bit dis-jointed and rugged.
Craig McAllister should have extended the lead after 61 minutes but could only find the Bowers & Pitsea keeper. The final goal for Grays came in the 76th minute, Lawson again the architect, crossing from the right into the six yard area only for a defender to turn the ball over his own line.
Bowers & Pitsea gained scant consolation with just 6 minutes left on the clock. A deep cross from wide right was volleyed into the net past Danny Knowles.
Goals
Bowers & Pitsea: ? (84)
Grays: Aaron O'Connor (20, 48, 55)
James Lawson (51, 57)
Own Goal (76)
Bowers & Pitsea Starting Lineup
Unknown
Grays Athletic Starting Lineup
Ross Flitney
Luke Woodward
Ahmadou Seye
Jack Haverson
Adam Gross
James Lawson
Jamie Day
Ashley Barnes
Rodney Hicks (trialist)
Aaron O'Connor
Craig McAllister
Subs
Danny Knowles -> Ross Flitney (46)
Danny Baigent -> Jack Haverson (46)
Jack Mead -> Aaron O'Connor (59)
Rob Newman -> Jamie Day (64)
Waller -> Rodney Hicks (trialist) (74)
Balla -> Craig McAllister (78)
Leahey -> James Lawson (81)
Barker -> Adam Gross (88)
NB: First names & spelling of youth players maybe inaccurate
Report written by Chris Jones
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