SOUTH: Match Report - Three goal spell shocks Motormen

Written by Jeremy Hill

Grays Athletic 4 (Nutter 25, Eastwood 34, Carthy 35, George 46)
Redbridge 1 (Poole 10)

A three-goal 10-minute spell was enough to change the course of this game and earn Grays their first league win of the season.

Craig Edwards made two changes to the team that started the home defeat to Basingstoke, former Athletic man Alex Fiddes in for Damien Batt and KK Opara replacing Jay Murray.

Looking to bounce back from Saturday's home defeat to Basingstoke, the first 10 minutes saw Redbridge start brightly and enjoy the upper hand. After 6 minutes, Greg Lincoln scuffed a shot wide of Carl Emberson's goal after a lay off from Opara who illustrated his strength by shielding the ball from Youlds.

The Motormen were rewarded for their fine start in the 10th minute when Emberson fluffed his clearance when under pressure from Vaughan and Poole picked up the ball 20 yards out to perfectly lob the back peddling keeper.

With their tails clearly up, Redbridge begun to carve out further opportunities- Poole shooting over a minute later and Fiddes firing a volley straight at Emberson from the edge of the box.

The Motormen had a glorious opportunity to go 2-0 up, Wayne Vaughan fed Opara who charged into the Grays penalty area and found himself one on one with Emberson. He then attempted to round Emberson only for the keeper to make contact with the ball and push it away from him. The loose ball nearly fell for the supporting Poole but was eventually cleared out of the danger area by Robinson.

Grays then shocked Redbridge with an equaliser in the 25th minute. Dean Brennan fed John Nutter on the left who drove his shot past Jamie Lunan into the back of the net.

Nutter seemed to be causing Redbridge right back Kevin Stephens some problems with his pace and trickery and Motormen manager Craig Edwards made a substitution in the 31st minute to counteract this. Richard Halle replaced Stephens and Allan McLeod switched to right back with Halle filling the left back spot.

Unfortunately for Edwards, Grays went further ahead 3 minutes later. Freddy Eastwood fired past Lunan to put the hosts 2-1 up after capitalising on the Redbridge defence's inability to clear their lines.

A minute later a free kick from Brennan was also not cleared at the back by the Motormen and Grays skipper Martin Carthy was the first player to react by hammering the ball past Lunan from close range to give the home side a 3-1 lead.

A spirited Redbridge almost pulled a goal back just before half time when McLeod played in Edwards who saw his shot hit the crossbar with Emberson well beaten.

The start of the second half saw Redbridge concede a hammer blow. Barely a minute after the restart Grays applied pressure in the Motormen's penalty area and Liam George capitalised on their hesitancy to clear the ball from the danger area by firing past Lunan.

In the hope of changing the course of the match, Edwards introduced Jay Murray in the 56th minute for Opara and Darryl Plummer for Vaughan in the 68th minute and although the Motormen continued to persevere they were unable to breach Emberson's goal for a second time.

Allan McLeod picked up the only yellow card of the game in the 90th minute after a high challenge.

Although suffering their second successive defeat by three goals, Redbridge can be heartened by an impressive midfield performance where Edwards and Vaughan looked more than a match for the experienced Grays duo of Thurgood and Carthy. The Motormen's passing and movement were much improved and like Saturday there was a 'never say die' attitude and refusal to accept defeat even when trailing by three goals.

Grays Athletic:
1. Carl Emberson
2. Joe Bruce
3. Daniel Lunan
4. Steve Robinson
5. Eddie Youlds
6. Stuart Thurgood
7. Dean Brennen (85mins replaced)
8. Martin Carthy (c)
9. Freddy Eastwood (88mins replaced)
10. Liam George (75mins replaced)
11. John Nutter
Subs
12 Dean Bradshaw (85mins on)
13 Simon Overland (not used)
14 Ellis Remy (88mins on)
15 Chris Wild (not used)
16 Mitchell Cole (75mins on)

Redbridge
1. Jamie Lunan
2. Kevin Stephens (31mins replaced)
3. Allan McLeod (c) (booked)
4. Ben Lewis
5. Chris Perkins
6. Greg Lincoln
7. Alex Fiddes
8. Craig Edwards
9. K.K Opara (56 mins off)
10. Glenn Poole
11. Wayne Vaughan (68 mins off)
Subs
12 Richard Halle (31 mins on)
14 Jay Murray (56 mins on)
15 Daryl Plummer (68 mins on)
16 Yohance Lewis (not used)
17 David Bull (not used)


Referee: Ian Searle
Assistant: Sean Goode
Assistant: Clive Watkins

Half Time: Grays Athletic 3-1 Redbridge
Full Time: Grays Athletic 4-1 Redbridge