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Written by Pete Wilson
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Wednesday, 11 April 2007 |
Monday 9th April 2007
Grays 1 (0?Connor 45)
Vics 0
Vics first ever visit to the New Recreational Ground ended in disappointment as
a demanding and congested fixture list was ultimiteley responsible for an
understandably leg weary display.
Quicker ?out of the blocks? ,the home side could have scored on three occasions
in the opening 4 minutes. Oli headed wide from 7 yards, Rhodes angled a shot
wide before O?Connor found himself clear on goal but his final shot was gathered
by Senior with consummate ease.
Grays remained on top and Vics were indebted to Senior for two quality saves to
deny O?Connor and then Rhodes. Vics eventually replied and Dean struck the bar
from a Battersby throw. Otherwise the Essex side continued to look the more
menacing and a goal line clearance by Griffiths and a superb save by Senior that
kept out an Oli shot looked to have been enough to have preserved parity at the
break. But finally their resistance was broken with a goal on the stroke of half
time.
Christian Smith gave away possession too cheaply just outside the box leaving
O?CONNOR to turn Griffiths and place a shot into the far bottom corner of the
net.
Vics looked to make immediate amends at the start of the second half and a Dean
header landed agonisingly wide of the post. But their best efforts lacked
conviction in the final third of play and it was again the home side who went
closest to scoring when O?Connor was set clear on goal but again he was denied
by Senior who completed the save with an outstretched leg.
Smith cleared the bar by inches from a powerful 30 yard drive before he was
replaced by Jon McCarthy, while Shaw took the place of Byrne at the same time.
Yet the fortunes of Vics changed little and while Griffiths was off the field,
having his head heavily bandaged for a head injury, Smart was adjudged to have
fouled Martin inside the penalty area. But when the same player picked himself
up to take the spot kick Senior proved himself more than equal to the task and
pulled off another quality save.
A growing belief that the home side may yet be made to pay for their
indiscretions was bolstered by growing Vics possession but sadly never matched
by any threat on the home goal.
And with time running out the day?s frustrations were made complete when
Griffiths was awarded a second yellow card for a fairly innocuous challenge.
Team: 3-5-2
Senior? /
Roberts, Griffiths, Charnock? /
Battersby, Carr, Smith (McCarthy 64 mins), Byrne (Shaw 64 mins), Smart (Roca 74
mins)? /
Dean, Townson
Subs not used: Connett & Brown
Referee: D. Phillips
Attend: 776
Man of the Match: Mark Roberts
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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