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21.10.2003 at 19:45 The Recreation Ground
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Attendance : 225
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Grays Athletic
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9 - 1
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St Albans City
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Referee : M Johnson
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Ryman Premier League
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Freddie Eastwood (21 pen, 29, 56)
Leroy Griffiths (24, 77)
Martin Carthy (43, 67)
Tony Lock (62)
Jamie Martin (90) |
Simon Martin (83)
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To The Rec', home of Grays Athletic, who knocked us out of the F.A. Cup a few weeks ago and they have climbed the League to 6th. They have young Freddie Eastwood, formerly of West Ham, and Leroy Griffiths, formerly of QPR, up front, one of the most potent strike forces in the Ryman League.
Steve Castle, promoted from Caretaker to Manager earlier today has his problems with Oakes, De Souza and Williams joining the injured list, Brown away on business and McDonnell unavailable. That's 8 probable starters not starting today. The team was White in goal, 4 at the back: Gledhill, Seeby, Castle and Murray; 4 in the middle: Reynolds, Wraight (C), Deacon and Perfect, and up front: Martin and Tomlinson. On the bench: Attwood, Parsons, Cross, Hanson and the injured De Souza.
Neither side really settled for the first 20 minutes and there was little pattern to the game or sign of things to come.
On 21 minutes, Eastwood broke through the back line and into the area to be brought down by the onrushing Barry White. A clear red card and The Walrus didn't argue. On came 18 year old Peter Hanson for Reynolds and Eastwood hit a powerful penalty which gave the youngster no chance.
Hanson will have wanted time to settle but within 4 minutes it was 2. The keeper hesitated for a moment before coming late to gather a through ball and he now knows just how fast Leroy Griffiths is. A third followed 3 minutes later when Eastwood hit an unstoppable volley. Hanson delayed the striker his hat-trick moments later with a fine save but the game was effectively over just before half time when Grays scored their 4th, a firm header from Carthy. H.T. 4-0.
Into the second half and Castle headed high from a corner within moments. For the rest of the half, it was one-way traffic for the most part. By 80 minutes it was 8-0, Eastwood completing his hat-trick and a couple for Griffiths in there somewhere and in truth, only the efforts of Hanson, with a string of fine saves, aided by the crossbar once and a goal-line clearance from his Manager, kept the score in single figures.
In a rare City attack, Martin was brought down 30 yards out and he bent the free-kick like Beckham past the experienced Capleton in the Grays goal. 8-1. Hopes of a late comeback were dashed when Grays scored their ninth after a goal-mouth scramble just before the whistle. F.T. 9-1.
Eastwood and Griffiths were awesome tonight. Grays are very good indeed going forward and, of course, I can't tell you how they are in defence on this showing. Some, but too few, of The Saints emerge with any credit from this battering. The official attendance was 226 with the lowest number of Travelling City Faithful that I can remember.
Entertainment 1/10. Technical Merit 1/10. Referee 6/10. Atmosphere 1/10
Match report by Awayday |
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