Grays too strong for United
Sutton were hit by the Grays rollercoaster in this hard-fought FA Trophy clash when, despite being away from home, Grays booked their fourth round appearance.
The Gander Green Lane encounter was a bruising one for both teams, each of who started on Saturday with impressive recent records.
With Grays' Steve Robinson in the starting line up, in the place of injured Lee Matthews, and Leroy Griffiths still out being replaced by Vill Powell, the opening minutes were all Grays.
However, Powell, set up first by Dennis Oli and then when Robinson’s brilliant setup got him through, missed a couple of gilt-edged chances. John Martin came close to as Grays dominated.
Shell-shocked Sutton began to come back into the game halfway through the first period as Craig Watkins almost converted midfielder Joff Vansittart’s header.
However, Blues keeper Ashley Bayes was there to parry the ball which struck the crossbar.
End-to-end action saw Vansittart again tormenting an agile-looking Blues keeper. Bayes produced another save, this time low to thwart the poacher’s attempted nodded goal attempt.
Whatever manager Mark Stimson said during the halftime chat worked as the side emerged with more fire in their bellies for the last 45 minutes.
Powell was unlucky when his shot left Sutton keeper Phil Wilson wrong-footed but the ball whizzes wide.
Ten minutes after the restart Steve West collided with a Sutton player and picked up a nasty head gash, forcing Stimmo to bring off the player and give crowd-pleasing recent ‘flu-struck’ absentee Leroy Griffiths a chance.
The visitors gained the lead when they took advantage of a napping defence. Martin’s short corner to Brennan was whipped across to Stuart Thurgood who found Oli. He used his head to put Grays in the driving seat.
U’s Chris Nurse then tried his luck from 25 yards, but sent his shot at least a foot over the bar, and then Fear was cautioned for a deliberate foul on steadfast defender Jamie Stuart.
With just over a quarter of an hour remaining Hooper’s right hand run and Griffiths’ finish made sure of the tie. Although the home side fought back, it was too little too late.
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the report.
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