Photo by Peter Jackson (www.graysathletic.co.uk)
Tilbury 1 Grays Athletic 2
Bostik North
Report by Anthony Mercer
A last minute penalty saw Grays Athletic beat local rivals Tilbury in an entertaining afternoon at Chadfields, witnessed by a crowd of 202.
On a beautiful August afternoon, Tilbury gave four debuts and were indebted to keeper Clarke Bogard in the first half as he denied four good efforts. Tilbury’s best effort fell to Adam Vyse who hit just wide on 10 minutes.
On 24 minutes Grays had a good chance with Carlos finding Captain Barry Cogan on the edge of the area, who curled his shot, but Bogard tipped over well.
On the half hour Bogard was again to the rescue with a double save from Bishop and Hughes-Mason. Tilbury’s best efforts came on the break.
The visitors started the second period strongly with Bogard again saving well from Carlos and Folkes shaving the bar. Grays possession eventually paid on 53 minutes when Tilbury lost possession deep in their half and Kieran Bishop fired low into the net.
Tilbury made some changes and started to get back into the game. Adam Vyse muscled Dunne off the ball and flashed in a low cross which Johnson failed to hold and the ball was scrambled clear. Tilbury continued to pressure with another goalmouth scramble seeing Kurt Smith fire wide.
On 80 minutes pressure from Vyse saw him fire wide and Lamar Johnson denied him again when he smothered well. The pressure told as the Dockers equalising on 84 minutes when a Kurt Smith corner was not cleared, with Johnson tipping the ball onto the up-right before Emiel Aiken volleyed home.
Deep into injury time a Grays Athletic free kick found Jamie Slabber who tussled with Salami and the striker was adjudged to have been pulled down in the box and Bishop slotted home confidently for his second of the afternoon. Seconds later the final whistle came to end an entertaining afternoon at Chadfields.
After the game manager Gary Henty commented “I did not feel we deserved to lose, I’m so disappointed with the result”
Tilbury: Clarke Bogard, George Pullen, Abdus Salami, Emiel Aiken, Joe Turpin, Ryan Melaugh (Tony Martin 72’), Danny Norton (Bryan Kyungu 62’), Jack Carlile, Luke Hornsley (Lewis Jaggs 72’), Adam Vyse, Kurt Smith.
Scorer – Emiel Aiken (84’)
Grays Athletic: Lamar Johnson, Ryan Mahal, Sam Cross, Barry Cogan, Perry Dunn, Glenn Wilson, James Folkes (Sully Zuhdu 76’), Adeyinka Cole (Furo Gogo-Ibiama 81’), Kieran Bishop, Keirnan Hughes-Mason (Jammie Slabber 62’), Joao Carlos.
Scorer – Kieran Bishop (53’, 90’p)
