Football: Blues do like to be beside the seaside with away win at Bognor

Ryman Premier

Bognor Town 0 v 3 Grays Athletic

THE BLUES got off to the perfect start to their Ryman Premier season with an emphatic 3-0 victory against much-fancied Bognor Town.

Grays played the game in the manner of their coaching staff: assured, unflappable and certain.

The Blues started brightly and Jeff Hammond went close in the 4th minute.

But Bognor soon got into their stride on a lovely surface and should have scored when a Robson point blank header was blocked by his own player.

Pundits had said that one of the hardest places to go for the first game of the season was Bognor but Grays with young players such as Alex Cruickshank looked very calm and very assured.

In the 11th minute, Jeff Hammond sprung the offside trap but his shot from ten yards went wide.

This was end to end stuff and very entertaining in the sunshine.

Bognor were making plenty of mistakes that the Blues midfield were pouncing upon but whilst Alex Cruickshank looked sprightly, Jared Small looked a little uncertain and you wondered if he was carrying a knock.

Again, in the 18th minute, Alex Cruickshank fed Joao Carlos in on the left but Carlos’s shot went over.

The third Rock’s corner saw an exciting scramble that was snuffed out by a fine George Kamarusi save.

]In the 21st minute, Grays took the lead, when Joao Carlos again took advantage of a through ball and neatly threaded it into the net. It was no more than they deserved.

Bognor nearly equalised after a poor Kamurasi clearance was met by Terry Dodd who curled the ball round the keeper but also wide of the far post.

It felt like a game in which it would be vital for Grays to get the second goal. Carlos had another chance and Grays were certainly assertive and aggressive whilst the Rocks were having trouble with the final ball.

Ryan Kirby subbed Jared Small and himself at the beginning of the second half as the Blues continued to attack using the channels.

Terry Dodd continued to be dangerous and a snap shot in the 55th minute brought a great low save from keeper Kamarusi.

The game fell into a lull but Grays needed to be watchful. The Rocks tried to apply pressure but Grays became more and more assured.

In the 64th minute, Grays stretched their lead when Jack West, who, as usual, had been putting a shift in all game, used all his guile and wit, to twist and turn the Bognor defence and find a space to slot the ball home bundled the ball home.

In the 77th minute, David East was fouled thirty yards out. Aaron Gonzalez struck the ball through the defence and into the goal to sum up Bognor’s day.

Grays played out the rest of the game at a leisurely pace, controlling the game and looking very accomplished.

Who knows how the season will turn out for Grays but we know that many of the loyal travelling fans enjoyed today. They enjoyed travelling, mingling with fans, supporting their team, having a pint at the clubhouse and the banter back home.

Grays play their first game at their adopted home venue Mill Field (Aveley) against Leiston on Wednesday at 7.45pm.

Grays Ath: Kamaruai G, Pope C, Kirby R (Baker J 45)., East D, Flynn L, Cruickshank A, Lalite L, Carlos J, West J, Hammond J (Hamdan A 71), Small J (Ramos-Gonzalez A 45).

Subs not used: Anderson P, Moses B

Bognor Regis: Zawadski, Marzetti, Tuck, Crane, Axten, Robson, Hopkinson, Wills, Dodd, Whyte, Kempson

Subs not used: Pearce Sackman Wollers Trigg

Att: 478