Grays Athletic 3, Ilford 0
GRAYS comfortably brushed aside the lacklustre challenge of Ilford to move to third place in Ryman One North on Wednesday.
On a rain-soaked night, the pace of the game on a slippery pitch was fast all evening – and mostly one way traffic.
Ilford had just one weapon, the pace of striker Harry Sintim, but as the night wore on he drifted backwards and out of the limelight – though ironically he had his side’s best chance of the night in the dying stages when the points were long gone.
Grays presented a number of attacking options but rarely worked visiting keeper Robert Budd on merit, instead capitalising on defensive mistakes for their two goals.
The first came on 14 minutes when livewire Stephen Demeteriou teased the Foxes’ defence, prompting several rash challenges that committed defenders and left the space for the ball to be slipped to Simon Thomas who was unchallenged as he drilled it low into the net.
Though Grays saw plenty of the ball, chances were at a premium and the landslide that might have been anticipated given their dominance failed to materialise. Indeed the crowd of 253 had to wait for 39 minutes for a second goal and again it owed much to poor defending.
Ilford defender Liam Thomas was under little pressure on the edge of the box but attempted an over ambitious clearance that he completely fluffed and the ball fell invitingly for Jared Small who still had plenty to do. He was equal to the task though, thumping a rasping drive from distance that gave Budd no chance.
Ilford had threatened little but almost snatched a goal in the closing stages of the half when Grays' defence went to sleep defending a cross. Home keeper Stuart Robinson, who appeared to be struggling with a rib injury, fluffed his first chance at a clearance and the ball lobbed to Liam Thomas who twisted and headed the ball goalwards only to see the keeper belie his infirmity and produce a magnificent, one-handed save at full stretch.
Ilford, who had looked rudderless for much of the first half, came out with more purpose for the second but for some reason played deep, which played into the hands of Grays for whom Marvin Samuel and Tom Harvey did an excellent job of breaking up play.
It also opened up the possibility of speedy counter-attacks, one of which on the hour saw Small burst through with only Budd to beat but the keeper kept his concentration and nicked the ball from the striker’s feet.
Robinson finally succumbed to his injury midway through the half, giving way to youngster Ross Brown, who was to enjoy a largely untroubled remainder of the match.
His only moment of real concern came on 80 minutes when Sintim finally worked his way into a good position and managed to bustle his way past the sub stopper but he scuffed his effort into the side netting.
It would have probably only been a consolation goal but Grays added to his disappointment by going up the other end and creating the game’s Champagne moment with a superb flowing move started by sub Chris Barry and involving Simon Thomas before Demitriou cut inside and curled a shot that looked goalbound all the way until Budd flung himself and tipped it wide. Unfortunatley for the keeper, he flapped at the subsequent cross and in the goalmouth melee that followed Junior Baker forced the ball over the line to wrap up a comprehensive, if not altogether totally convincing victory.
But it should be said that Grays can only beat what’s put in front of them and though they have yet to be really tested, they must be building up a wealth of confidence as well as amassing points.