A goal apiece from Martin Carthy and Tony Battersby ensured Grays racked up yet another win on Saturday to keep them on course to break the magical 100 point barrier.
After Tuesday’s win at St. Albans, if Mark Stimson’s men win their three remaining league games they will finish with a staggering total of 101 points from their 42 games.
Add that to the 110 goals they have scored in the league alone this season and you get some impression of the way in which the Blues have dominated the inaugural Conference South division.
Not that Stimson cares a jot about hitting the 100 point mark, as his thoughts are not firmly set on the club’s date with destiny at Villa Park next month.
Since securing Grays’ place in the final, the Blues boss has kept true to his word and given every player the chance to stake his claim for a starting position come May 22 using the full depths of his squad in the process.
Of the 11 who started the second leg of the FA Trophy semi-final in Burton a week earlier, only two – John Martin & Dean Brennan – lined up against Weymouth.
The raft of changes meant that Grays were never at their best against their south-coast opponents and, in truth, were fortunate Weymouth’s finishing was not better on the day.
But it is the mark of the quality of squad that has been assembled at the New Rec that even on an off day, they can still grind out a victory.
Despite a busy start from Weymouth it was Grays who struck first 13 minutes in when Jude Sterling’s deep cross was badly misjudged by keeper, Jason Matthews, and Martin Carthy stole in at the back post to head the ball home.
It was Carthy’s first strike since returning to Grays from a loan spell at Welling United, where, ironically he scored the winning goal against Cambridge City, which effectively handed blues the championship.
Steve West the glanced a couple of headers wide for the Blues before he was forced off with a gash to the forehead, the result of a clash with Bradley Thomas.
More worryingly for Blues’ fans, top-scorer Leroy Griffiths, was also withdrawn at the same time after picking up a nock on the ankle and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Weymouth should have equalised just short of the half hour mark when Thomas planted a free header into the grateful arms of Carl Emberson and the big defender went close again ten minutes later when he headed over a Darren Wheeler cross.
Matthew Bound then forced Emberson into a good stop with a powerful free kick and Grays’ recent acquisition Jude Sterling did well to prevent Wheeler from heading towards goal.
The second half followed much the same pattern with Weymouth pressing but Grays always looking the more likely to score.
Aaron McLean acrobatically volleyed wide for the home side and substitute Tony Battersby came close to turning in a missile of a throw from Sterling.
At the other end Steve Clarke looked certain to score when racing on to a Wheeler cross but inexplicably missed his header and Brian Dutter should have done better after Emberson flapped at a cross.
Grays sealed the game with 13 minutes to go when Battersby’s cool finish rounded off a sweet move involving Brennan & McLean.
Buoyed by the goal both Martin & McLean went close after Battersby’s knock downs and Matthews produced a magnificent save to prevent an own goal by Weymouth defender David Waterman as Grays dominated the closing stages.
Afterwards Stimson gave the Blues faithful a medical update on West and Griffiths, allaying fears that the pair would be doubts for the Villa Park showdown.
He said: “Leroy had six stitches on an ankle wound, it’s a little bit swollen but he should be available for the last league game of the season.
”Steve West had seven stitches above his eye and that should be fine.
”I’ve said before that all I want is no injuries before the final, it would be such a blow for the players if someone missed the game because of injury. I just wish that we didn’t have anymore league games to go” .
Report by Ryan Goad
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the report.
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