This is worrying. This time last year, after the defeat at home against Weymouth and after the long journey to Halifax, when Grays were fifth from bottom, there was never a thought that they were relegation material. A victory against Northwich and the occasional inspirational victory (Aldershot, Torquay) steadied the ship.
This season, on the road, on trips to Mansfield, opposition fans quite rightly described Grays Athletic as the better team. Tonight, to a man, in the press box and in the stands, the fans described Grays as the poorest team, they had seen all year.
They are wrong: this isn’t a team. Circumstances have led to a series of individuals putting on a blue shirt and being paid, trying their best to produce a positive result. They are strangers. This is not a blame game. This is a situation and the situation is in control.
The one player who is coming out of this situation with any credit is Kenny Davis. The former Harlow Town skipper had an outstanding game last night. Tackling like a man possessed, even coming across from right back to cover on the left. He foraged down the right flank attempting to get to the dead ball line. That’s the dead ball line, Ishmael Welsh, the stripe of white that runs from the corner flag to....Sorry for the sarcasm but at the beginning of the game, it was clear that the Diamonds had a right back who was a fine attacker but very vulnerable to attack.
For whatever reason, Welsh would not attack him. In the second half he continued to produce a series of small passes as if he we was a holding midfielder when the game and Grays very survival in the Blue Square Premier depends on him attacking the line.
If nothing else, he owes it to himself. he has to ask himself; “Why was I a West Ham trainee? Why have I, at times, terrorised defences. He also needs to ask himself, how the 44 loyal fans who made the journey feel at seeing such an apprehensive display.
This is also where coaching comes in. John Robertson was an underperforming winger languishing in Mansfield reserves doing exactly the same until Brian Clough came and re-energised his game. Cloughies are in short supply. So it is down to you, Ishmael.
The combination of Sloma and Welsh is a potent force and could be a key weapon against any team but Sam can only do his thing it Ishmael comes to the party
The defence played well. They had a keen pacy Diamonds attack to deal with. Daryl Clare, short of match fitness is always a handful and Marcus Kelly liberated to attack down the channels and skip along the line was a potent force.
In the 1st minute, David Button, faced with a clever cross, failed to come off his line. Lee Phillips jumped well and should have scored. Grays looked organised. Luke Hickie, makng his full debut looked to link up on the right while providing effective cover at the back.
Stuart Elliot was working hard, plying his trade like an artisan but Stefan Bailey had only one thing going for him: he wasn’t playing Crawley. Like Welsh, you could see why he was at a pro club and you can see why he was let go.
In the 15th minute, Kelly picked up the ball on the left, skipped across the path of Kenny Davis and Luke Hickie before passing it square. Three Diamond attackers took a couple of steps out of the box. They were not closed down but simply watched. Fortunately, the move broke down.
In the 24th minute, the effervescent Kelly, who hadn’t scored a leaque goal since March 2007 danced straight through Bailey and Elliott and placed a 20 yard strike to the left of the flailing Button and in.
That, was effectively that. Sean Rigg was trying hard but Simon Thomas looked a complete stranger to the game and some of its basics. The team lacked real conviction up front. The Diamonds defence were hard working but could be taken however Garry Hill’s men were really up for this: they were chasing down everything.
Grays changed to a 4-3-3 formation in the second half but all that meant was they had three men who never looked remotely like scoring instead of two. This was a brave tactic and the fact that the team didn’t concede paid testament to how hard they were working but Rushden were totally totally comfortable.
Will Rushden be promoted? Perhaps: because the league has, bar Crawley, a large number of monumentally average team. That is why Wayne Burnett is right in believing that the team could still make the play-offs. They have the defence for it. Jamie Stuart knows that his is now all about winning ugly and the blueprint that seemed all set up when Mark Molesley scored after five mins against Weymouth has been consigned to the dustbin.
When the players warmed down after the game, they simply stood in a huddle like a schoolboys chucked out of the classroom. What happened to the long warm downs under the tutelage of Dickie Harper and Dave Richardson? They weren’t joined by any coach and one speculates as to what was going on? Where was Gavin Dayes. Where was Stuart Thurgood?
The positive fans are right to be positive. When you look around the Nene Arena, all Grays fans must feel: wouldn’t this be good. It could happen and if this is the Chairman’s dream then the borough must back him.
The young manager obviously believes in young talent. He can see the potential in Stefan Bailey and Ishmael Welsh. Wayne has a proven track record with nurturing young talent and indeed, this season may do them the world of good.
Stadiums, Chief Executives, Supporters Trusts. All these factors at this point are all peripheral. Somebody, somewhere, has to start scoring goals or otherwise, Grays Athletic are going to be relegated.
Report by Michael Casey
Thanks to Your Thurrock for the match report
|