Few teams in any league can match the points advantage Grays have carved out for themselves at the head of the Conference South.
Mark Stimson’s marauders go on giving their opponents the Blues week after week. This weekend it was the turn of Basingstoke Town to receive a whipping in their own back-yard.
The Camrose – home of in-form Town – saw Grays rack up a comfortable victory over their opponents. And Stimson’s boys hardly needed to break into a sweat to bag the points and extend their lead to a massive 13 points.
Grays weekend line-up featured Steve Robinson who was playing for injury struck Lee Matthews.
At the sharp end Vill Powell was booted and suited for the job of replacing Leroy Griffiths who was unavailable to a to a flu bug.
In the early stages home skipper Jason Bristowe’s block was all that got between Powell, who was set up by Dean Brennan, and a goal to mark Grays’ dominance from the start.
Town’s Argentinean play maker Sergio Torres tested the Grays defence, slotting through a ball to Nathan Stamp and usually sure-footed Ashley Bayes in the Blues goal looked to have been well beaten but recovered well.
The breakthrough came when Steve West connected with a Brennan ball and headed home. As Grays celebrated, the home defence remonstrated for what they saw as offside, but the men in black disagreed and the goal was good.
Town’s best chance came for Christian Levis, but the midfielder’s shot was straight at Bayes.
At the other end Scott Tarr produced a great triple-decker-save. Dennis Oli had started the move with a run down the wing and Powell’s close quarters shot was smothered by Tarr who then used his hands to push away West’s follow-up effort and then he thwarted another shot.
However Grays doubled their advantage minutes before half time when Oli’s run, this time across the box, drew a feet-first save from Tarr but Powell was on hand to stab home the loose ball.
Grays wrapped up the matter in the 56th minute. Brennan’s corner was redirected by Stuart Thurgood and the deftness of his ball allowed Oli a tap in.
Town replaced Ricky Allaway with Scott Smith, and Grays brought on Mitchell Cole for John Martin. With less than 15 minutes remaining Gary Hooper replaced Oli and Liam George got his first start since an ankle injury at the start of the season. Powell made way. .
Although Town pressed for a late consolation goal Bayes kept the borough score sheet blank, preventing a fiery Torres’ 20-yard striker before the ref blew the final whistle.
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the report.
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