Ryman Div One North
Grays Ath 0 v 2 Waltham Abbey
A TIRED Grays Athletic lost 5-3 to a spirited Waltham Abbey at the final game of the season at the Rush Green Stadium.
Grays had nothing to prove and in many ways, the result will act as a leveller when they return to prepare for the new season in a couple of months.
What people will remember is the presentation ceremony as skipper Lee Flynn lifted the trophy. The players wore t-shirts with the words THANK YOU..No 1 Fans emblazoned upon them. It illustrated the bond between fans and team that has seen them through the last three seasons.
As for the game…
It was Abbey who had the first chance of the game after a poor Lee Flynn back-pass was pounced upon by Ayrton Coley but the ever-reliable keeper, Lamar Johnson was quick to clear.
In the 6th minute, Leon Lalite put a neat pass through to Jack West. West was clear but put the ball straight at keeper Jake Whinchup.
Abbey had a great chance to score after James Pegram skipped across the front of the box, slid the ball to Coley but he blasted the ball wide.
The winds got up and that was good news for Lee Flynn who was putting fade and curve into his free kicks.
But after a dull spell it was the Abbey who opened the scoring with a stunning thirty yard strike by James Pegram.
Grays needed to move up a couple of gears if they were to maintain their winning run and they had further problems when Abbey’s Dean Green put them 2-0 up.
The second half began poorly as Grays just looked like they had run out of steam after a long long season. And it got worse as Dean Green smashed the ball home from close range to make it 3-0.
Amazingly, Grays hit back. And in the space of ten minutes got back level with goals from Joao Carlos, Danny Bunce and Junior Baker.
But it was not to be as Abbey stretched away again. Keeper, Lamar Johnson got himself sent off for a silly lunge.
But nothing could dampen the celebrations afterwards.
Referee: Paul Yates
Grays Athletic: Johnson L, Pope C, Baker J, Kirby R, Flynn L, Lalite L, Beaney K (Hall J 46), Bunce D, Carlos J (Small J 75), West J, Hammond J (Sweeney J 70).
Subs not used: East D, Marshall L,
Waltham Abbey: Whincup J, Daveney J, Barnes B, Bedford M, Sargent C, Pearman J, Pegram J, Bruno T, Coley A, Green D, Bristow L.
Subs not used: Nash C, Cancar M, Laxton T, Igoki C, Ogunkoya K
