FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Grays Athletic 2 v 1 Norwich United
GRAYS ATH got back to winning ways with a solid 2-1 victory against Norwich United in the FA Cup 1st qualifying round.
The game started quietly in the September heat. Grays played in neat formations across the park but apart from a wayward shot by Jack West they had very little to show.
A nasty shoulder injury to Norwich’s Nathan Howard caused a thirty five minute delay.
The match resumed with kamikazi keeper Kamurasi once again putting his players under pressure.
However, Norwich imploded at the other end. Luke Marshall made inroads into the area, the ball bounced back to Joe Sweeney whose thunderous shot hit a “Wich defender and in.
The game descended into a series of unforced errors as both teams struggled to develop any rhythm.
Marshall was still lively and forced a free kick on the edge of the area. Flynn’s kick flew into the area and all the Grays players.
Grays resumed and continued to play in a listless fashion. Norwich should have drawn level when they struck the post in the 53rd minute. Another chance in the 60th minute was well marshalled away by Kamarusi.
One of Grays’ problems is that Joao Carlos is terribly out of form. A minute after this reporter wrote that, Carlos appeared in space on the left hand side and slide the ball home to make it 2-0.
The chances started to come thick and fast. Jake Hall’s header was well saved and James Bunn missed a sitter.
Norwich’s Justin Fox scored a great goal in the 86th minute with a thirty yards dipping shot.
But Grays held steady to get through to Monday’s draw.
Grays Ath: Kamurasi G, Pope C, East D, Baker J, Flynn L, Marshall L ,(Hall J 54), Lalite L (Richards J 76), Beaney K, Carlos J, West J (Bunn J 58), Sweeney J.
Subs not used: Green L, Cooper G, Cruickshank A,Tamburini P, ,
Att: 157
“kamikazi keeper Kamurasi” – try saying that after a few snifters !