Julian Dicks first game in charge and perhaps the poorest Grays performances of the season. Dicks himself agreed, that the performance was below what he expects from his team and intends to make life tough on the training ground.

Altrincham started the better and having only scored once in there last four outings and struggling for any sort of form unexpectedly took the lead after 10 minutes. The move started on the left and when a low cross came into the box Rob Williams allowed the ball to run through him and Chris Denham turned and shot, beating the keeper Edwards at his left hand post and ending their 348 minute goal drought.

Danny Charge should have equalised on 35 mins when he was unmarked on the edge of the six yard box but his strike went high over much to the distress of him and his colleagues. The move started with a Kenny Davies shot from 20 yards out that was blocked by the Altrincham defence the ball went wide to the right where Charlie Taylor crossed into the box straight to the unmarked Charge.

Glen Poole had a half chance towards the end of the half as Grays rallied to get even before the break but his shot was deflected away for a corner.

Grays started much brighter in the second half, manager Julian Dicks must have told them a few truths about the first half, but it didn’t last long and soon faded quickly when Altrincham struck twice in 3 minutes just after the hour.

Craig Braham-Barrett playing at left back in the second half attempted to make a run down the flank but he met his match against Chris Denham who took the ball and ran 40 yards to the edge of the Grays penalty area where he slightly miss hit his shot that deflected off Anwar Uddin and beat the stranded Edwards for goal number two.

Three minutes later again the Grays keeper had to retrieve the ball from his net for the third time this time it was Denham who supplied the cross for Chris Senior to tap into the net at the near post.

Heads went down and fitness seemed to be a problem with the Grays squad, but they held out till the referee finally called time, with Stevenage on Tuesday night manager Dicks has very little time to put things right.

St Clere’s FC held an inaugural open day on Sunday and Council Leader Gary Hague was on hand to perform the opening duties.

This club just breathes enthusiasm and a lot of work has gone into its set up.

With people like Chairman Bill Mumford and President John Purkiss on board then the club should do well.

Watch these pages over the next few seasons as we aim to cover St Clere’s news and results

Mike Jones talked to John Purkiss

Blue Square Premier

Bill Robinson reports from The New Rec……

Grays managed to hold onto a point thanks to keeper Lee Butcher, he made numerous saves throughout the game but two fantastic saves in the last 15 minutes that kept Grays in the match.

The first half was quite uneventful with only half chances being created by both sides. It was from Mansfields second corner of the game that saw them take the lead, in the 12th minute, the corner was long and found the head of Luke Jones who sent the ball back to the near post for Jake Speight to sneak in by the post to head home.

Both teams defences managed to keep there opposition at arms length and the strikers had to rely on long range efforts, on two occasions Glenn Poole had an opportunity to score first time the keeper made a good save his second effort was sliced well wide.

The game was going from end to end but both defences remained in charge, Grays equaliser came in the 35th minute when the Mansfield defence appeared to fall asleep, a long ball out of defence by Gavin Hoyte found Obersteller on the left he pulled it back for Graham who crossed the ball and Jamie Slabber was unmarked around the penalty spot and he directed his header into the bottom right hand corner of the net with Keeper Marrott stranded on his line.

Half Time 1-1

Immense pressure from Mansfield straight from the restart saw two great chances for the visitor to regain the lead first Luke James header cleared of the line before keeper Butcher gathered it amongst a crowd of legs. Second chance saw the ball hit squarely against the bar from a corner after the ball was headed back by James for Perry to head against the bar.

Grays had to absorb even more pressure as Mansfield push forward with more urgency looking to get back in front. Mansfield in their quest again hit the bar and in the last few minutes of the game saw keeper Lee Butcher pull off two brilliant saves the best after Williams run down the left, he crossed and Spieght watch his goal bound header saved by Butchers outstretched right hand.

Grays Athletic: Lee Butcher, Daniel Charge, Sam Cutler, Kenny Davs, Richard Graham, Gavin Hoyte, Glen Poole, Jack Obersteller, Jamie Slabber, Anwar Uddin, Paolo Venazza.

Subs: Preston Edwards, George Beavan, Sam Gaughran, Tom Harvey, Charge, Charlie Taylor,

Mike Casey is on Holiday

To be fair though he was recalled for the Sunday and entertained the crowds with the uplifting Corridor and ever popular Honey I’m Home

As a sidenote I have been watching music at festivals like these for 35 years now and I have to say that was probably the worst introduction to an artist I have ever seen. Jordan I squirmed with you.

Anyway here in all its glory is the fantastic Tall Dark Friend all 9 min 20 secs of it. Enjoy

Haswell started his career as a trainee with Wimbledon FC before switching to Southend United. Dropping into the non-league game, he spent time at Harlow Town and Grays Athletic before spending three seasons at Southern League outfit Wingate & Finchley.

Chelmsford City signed him in January 2005 but was snapped up by AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee the following close season after winning both the Supporters and Players Player of the Year Awards with the Essex side.

Cast members were delighted with the selection although it means more ardous rehearsal to get the best performance possible for the Woking Competition which takes place on the 19th July.

Here’s a reminder of the awards from the Thurrock Drama Festival
ONE-ACT

WINNERS: 2009 Thurrock Courts Players
Mobil Cup “Just the ticket”
___________________________________________________________________
RUNNER UP: 2009 Blitzed Theatre Company
Procter & Gamble Cup “Get a Head in Love” ___________________________________________________________________
BEST PRODUCER: 2009 John White
Barclays Bank Cup “Just the ticket”
___________________________________________________________________
BEST PRESENTATION: 2009 Lightnin Drama Group
Lloyds Bank Cup “Voices” ___________________________________________________________________
BEST ACTOR: 2009 Neil Gray
Thurrock Gazette Cup James “Get a Head in Love” ___________________________________________________________________
BEST ACTRESS: 2009 Lisa Chapman
Courts Superstore Cup Sandra “Just the ticket” ___________________________________________________________________
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: 2009 Luke Coldham
Gary Ogburn Memorial Cup Harvey “Just the ticket” ____________________________________________________________________
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: 2009 Romy Brooks
Claremont Cup Sam “Get a Head in Love” ____________________________________________________________________

BEST ORIGINAL PLAY: 2009 Carol Hayes
Clara Maud Cup “Just the ticket” ___________________________________________________________________

BEST LIGHTING: 2009 Lightnin Drama Group
Doris Snelling Cup “Voices” __________________________________________________________________

Reporter Lisa Chapman

On 4th June, 1940, Sir Winston Churchill spoke the following infamous words:

“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France …….
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds……….”

Exactly four years later on 6th June, 1944 (now commonly known as D-Day) nearly 160,000 troops of the Allied Land Forces did precisely that, landing on the beaches of Normandy in amphibious vessels to begin the long awaited liberation of Europe, along with American and British paratroopers who had been dropped only hours before behind the beaches to disrupt German communications.

Today, on 7th June, 2009, sixty five years later, we pay tribute to those exceptional, mostly inexperienced, young men who bravely fought for their country and remember the thousands who sadly sacrificed their lives.

Yourthurrock visited the Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre to join in the D-Day celebrations. The day began with speeches and a one minute silence during which the haunting Last Post was played. The museum was open and well worth a visit and the guests could look forward to a flypast in the early afternoon along with a re-enactment of the taking of Pegasus Bridge. Many of the organisers and guests were dressed in 1940s costumes and were enjoying a sing-along in the sunshine while it lasted.

It is thanks to places like this that the horrors of the two World Wars are not buried and forgotten and for me it was an honour and privilege to spend time with these brave, humble veterans but not surprising to find that, even after all these years, they are not particularly comfortable to talk about what happened that day.

We caught up with the Gable Hall student after they had qualified for the semi-finals.

The result was no more than the Dockers deserved as for 90 minutes they kept to their plan, producing disciplined yet attractive football.

Harrow looked the superior team but that was about it. They played neat touch football in the middle of the park but every single move ended with an unforced error. It was all a question of whether Tilbury could take their chances.

On film you can see they had plenty of corners but a well disciplined Dockers defence merely coralled them away.

Time after time, Harrow strikers Jonathan Constant and Gary Noel looked like they would threaten but Ricky Hayles and Junior Baker had them in their proverbial pocket.

They did. In the 35th minute a free kick was aimed right into the heart of the Harrow defence. Chris Stowe rose high to head the Dockers into the lead to the joy of their highly enthusiastic travelling support.

The key to much of Tilbury’s game was energy. A player such as Manlee Brown will slowly wear a defence down enabling a players such as Chris Stowe and Michael Black to break through.

It also helps if the keeper makes basic mistakes. The game was tied up in the 65th minute when Glen Cohen chipped in a neat ball from the left which Andray Baptiste spilled but Chris Stowe did well to volley into the net to give the Dockers the silverware.

As the final whistle blew, the crowd went mad and the players celebrated. It was a well deserved victory from Graham Chester’s men who always give 100% on the park.

Orsett’s Got Talent!

THERE certainly is no business like show business as proven by the wonderful talent on show at Orsett Primary School in a variety show on Wednesday night.

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