Penalty decision knocks Blues
Grays bowed out of the FA Cup in the first round proper on Saturday when they were outmuscled and ultimately outplayed by Aldershot Town at The Rec.
Brave Blues contained Aldershot in the first half – without actually threatening the Conference visitors.
And to the delight of home fans gritty Grays went ahead in the 56th minute thanks to Ram Marwa’s in-swinging corner, Eddie Youds’ instep and Leroy Griffiths’ clinical strike.
Faced with humiliation, Aldershot ratcheted up their game.
With less than 20 minutes of the match remaining Blues defender Lee Williams was harshly adjudged to have pulled down Lee Charles inside the area.
Roscoe D’Sane’s spot kick was low and right….and beyond the fingertips of keeper Mel Capleton.
Grays never quite recovered from the ‘injustice’ of the penalty decision.
And Shots piled of the pressure, notching up ten second half corners.
Then came the killer blow: Tony Shields found D’Sane who outmuscled the Blues defence.
Aldershot’s 2002 season top scorer proved why he’s one of the Conference’s most prolific marksmen with a fine strike which settled the matter.
The game ended on a sour note when, in the 88th minute, a frustrated Ade Olayinka swung for an Aldershot midfielder after tempers flared.
The half-hearted haymakers didn’t connect, but the ref sent him packing anyway.
Nearly 1,500 watched Blues historic Cup run falter.
Many will be asking whether the outcome would have been different if Eastwood and Stuart Thurgood has been supporting an often isolated Griffiths in attack.
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the match report
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