Blues have a Mare trip across country
Consistency – formerly a Grays watchword – looks in danger of being bent out of shape. The Woodside stadium at Weston-Super-Mare was the weekend venue for Blues’ vexation and they were forced to make the long journey home pointless.
On Monday morning Grays remained in third slot in the Conference South, but fans will be looking to manager Mark Stimson to reinject the unbeatable spirit into a team which earlier this season looked invincible.
Stimson’s lads managed a mediocre display away from home and logged their second defeat of the season. In beating Blues. Weston proved that the super in their moniker is justified – they remain the only team in the Conference South still unbeaten.
Grays struggled with the Seagulls style and although Dean Bradshaw had an early poke at goal his effort was stopped by Weston’s Ryan Northmore.
The home side went ahead after 24 minutes after Mark McKeever made space in the Grays area and pulled back the ball to David Gilroy whose shot bulged the netting.
Despite Grays manager Mark Stimson replacing striker Freddy Eastwood – usually a sure bet to create chaos in the last third of the pitch – with Vill Powell on 36 minutes. Blues could not draw level.
Last week’s goalmonger for Blues, Leroy Griffiths, had his dancing shoes on but was unable to fox the keeper and one of his close-range shots was blocked by Northmore before the break.
At the other end Grays keeper Carl Emberson did brilliantly to prevent Billy Clark’s header as the unsettled travelling fans held their breath.
Under pressure Grays always look vulnerable to a second, but Weston Super Mare were handed their second on a plate as poor defending by the visitors gifted the ball to Adrian Mings who pushed it past a full stretched Emberson.
Blues fought back with attempts from Griffiths and Powell and the replacing of Martin Carthy with Ade Olayinka.
But even this and Daniel Lunan on for Dean Bradshaw could not stop the slide to defeat. However, apart from a pass from Lunan finding Powell, who hooked it high and wide, these changes made little difference.
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the match report
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