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05.02.2008 @ 19:45 Broadfield Stadium |
Crowd: 564
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Crawley Town
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4 - 0
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Grays Athletic
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Referee: A Halliday
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Conference League Cup / 5th Round-Match
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Magno Vieira (pen, 13)
Magno Vieira (18)
Bradley Thomas (55)
Magno Vieira (pen, 65)
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None
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Grays slump to Setanta cup exit
Grays had nothing in their arsenal to combat a Magno Viera hat-trick as they were sent crashing out of the Setanta Shield on Tuesday evening.
The visitors had started well with Scott Taylor continuing his good work against Welling in the last round and going close in the second minute.
But in the 13th minute keeper Ross Flitney's outstretched hand felled former Blues player Pierre Joseph Dubois and Viera slotted home the subsequent penalty.
Worse was to come in the 18th minute when a mistake by a rusty-looking Simon Downer left Viera unmarked in the area. He couldn't control the ball but it bounced off Jon Ashton back into his path and he pounced to put Crawley two up.
For the rest of the half Grays squandered much of their possession and looked devoid of energy and ideas.
Their game picked up briefly in the second half and in the 46th minute strong Aaron O'Connor run saw him pass to midfielder Michael Standing but his deft chip to the far post came to nothing.
The game was sealed in the 55th minute when Crawley's pacy front men forced a corner from which an unmarked Bradley Thomas easily headed in his first goal of the season.
Ben Watson and Jamie Day came on for Grays but couldn't make any impact In the 64th minute the pace of Dubois once again hurt Grays with Ashton pulling him down in the area and Viera sealed his hat-trick with his second penalty.
The final 15 minutes were dictated by Crawley who enjoyed total possession and command as Grays slumped to a tame exit.
By Michael Casey
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the match report
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