To 'The Rec' on the last day of Summer, and a fine day in West Essex. The Saints are seeking their fifth consecutive victory from the start of a season, a feat never before achieved. Will history be made against Grays, one of my pre-season favourites for the title? It shows how much I know - they have yet to win a game with 3 draws and a defeat from their first four matches. Big spenders, Grays have signed a string of high profile players but 5 or 6 are injured. Not a side to be under-estimated, however.
The Dynamic Duo selected Wilmot in goal; 4 at the back: Evans, Campbell, Townley and Naylor; 4 in the middle: Oakes, Challinor, Smith and Hollenbach; and up front; Martin and Crawshaw. On the bench were Brown, Moran, Kean, Gould and Roberts. In the stand, injured are Castle and De Souza, with Mackail-Smith and Sippets not available.
A strange game. City started the livelier and, in flashes produced crisp football. Grays are solid at the back but, in the first half, unable to cope with The Saints midfield. The better chances fell to the visitors and after 20 minutes or so a low cross from the wide right by Martin was met at the far post by Crawshaw to the surprise of the home 'keeper and right back. Crawshaw's first goal for City, and not the last, I'm sure. 0-1. A lot of whistle contributed to the disjointed football for the rest of the half.. H.T. 0-1.
The second half was a different story. The City midfield may have felt the heavy burden of history on their shoulders and were found wanting. The Grays midfield were re-vitalised and the former Canvey Islanders, Stimpson and Miller, began to control the game. They weren't closed down by the visitors who had Townley and Campbell to thank for towering performances which restricted the Grays strikers to speculative long-shots which didn't trouble Wilmot. City played too deep for me. The duo brought on Brown for Naylor and switched to 3-5-2 but they were unable to stem the tide. Kean came on for the disappointing Oakes. City chances were rare but fell to Martin and Brown. The final whistle brought relief to the Travelling City Faithful of some 170 or so out of an official attendance of 362. F.T. 0-1.
My MotM? Campbell, Townley or Crawshaw.
They say "winning is the only thing", and The Saints will take 3 points gladly. It cannot be champagne football every week. Sometimes the points are ground out and that was today. Without doubt, they will play better and lose this season. However. Five wins out of five. Top of the table by two points from Basingstoke. Surely Manager of the Month form for The Duo. They should share the bubbly with the centre backs on today's performance. Grays will be disappointed that they could not turn a lot of second half possession into clear chances. Abbottt and Reinelt are quality strikers and once the injured return, Grays will be there or thereabouts by the end of the season.
Entertainment 6/10. Technical Merit 6/10. Atmosphere 6/10. (It's a difficult place to 'warm up' despite the best efforts of The Firm) Referee 5/10.
Match report by Awayday |
