Essex Senior Cup
Semi Final
Concord Rangers 0 v 2 Grays Athletic
GRAYS Athletic will contest their first Essex Senior Cup final since 1995 after goals in each half from youngster Brian Moses and Danny Bunce saw the Ryman League Division One North side overcome Premier Division Concord Rangers.
Hakan Hayrettin’s team caused a minor upset at the Aspect Arena as the two in-form squads locked horns, and Grays now wait to see whether it’s Waltham Abbey, Southend United or AFC Hornchurch who they’ll meet in the county climax.
This was a competitive encounter between two committed teams and it was in the 31st minute that Moses broke the deadlock with his first ever Grays goal. He was found himself at a slim angle to the left of goalkeeper Tom Lovelock’s goal but he threw his knee at the ball, sending it over the Concord custodian and into the net.
That’s the way the scoreline stayed at the interval. After the break there was a lengthy hold-up in proceedings when Rangers player James White received treatment for a clash of heads. He needed to be helped from the pitch, but was thankfully conscious as he departed.
If anything, this enthused his team mates to step up a gear as they launched a barrage of attacks at Grays’ resolute defence in an effort to restore parity. But Athletic were rewarded six minutes into stoppage time when Bunce received possession and calmly smashed beyond Lovelock to ensure his side would be 90 minutes away from county silverware.
Concord Rangers: Tom Lovelock, Adetayo Osifuwa, Danny Glozier, Nicky Cowley, Matty Fry, John Easterford, Danny Spendlove, James White, Jason Hallett, Harry Elmes, Reece Harris. Substitutes: Billy Coyne, Jack Lampe, James Elmes, Sammy Knott, Tony Stokes.
Grays Athletic: Lamar Johnson, Craig Pope, Lee Flynn, Junior Baker, Ryan Kirby, Danny Bunce, Kenny Beaney, Jared Small, Joao Carlos, Leon Lalite, Brian Moses. Substitutes: John Docker, Joe Sweeney, Jack West, Daniel Subuola, Fry.
Referee: Wade Norcott (Harlow).
Assistant Referees: David Tregaskes (Chelmsford) and Peter Wilson (Chelmsford).
Well done Blues!
All those fallow years since 1995 without an Essex Senior Cup Final!
Well done Grays Athletic, although “only” the Essex Senior Cup, we have beaten some very good teams along the way this year and thoroughly deserve to be in the final! Hopefully we can transfer this to the league!