Grays Athletic 4 Southport 0

Sat, September 9, 2006. Kick off: 3:00 PM in Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

Without playing at their most fluent, Grays cruised past a game Southport side to claim second spot in the League table. Aaron McLean and Michael Kightly each grabbed a brace to post a combined tally of 13 goals already this season and with the defence only conceding 3 goals so far the Blues faithful are looking forward to a competive showing from their team this campaign. After a sluggish start, Grays stunned the visitors with a goal in the 19th minute, when from a cross by Glenn Poole, Aaron McLean nipped in between defender Steven Rowland and keeper Paul Harrison to take advantage of their hesitancy to head home. McLean then doubled the lead in the 29th minute, reacting quickest to his own mis-header from an Adam Green cross, to slot the ball past Harrison.

Southport tried to redress the balance but the Grays rearguard looked relatively comfortable as the game meandered along, until the 42nd minute, when a goal of true class lifted proceedings. A fine run and subtle pass by the returning Cam Mawer found Johnny Martin in the box and his one-two with Poole left Kightly clear and celebrated his England call-up with a goal to give the Blues a three goal advantage at the interval.

The second half saw more perspiration than inspiration as Grays seemed confident in not surrendering their lead despite Southport's manager throwing on two fresh attackers.After Martin's shot was denied by Harrison, good efforts by Mark Boyd and Kevin Lee were followed by Southport‘s best chance of the match when Tony Gray slipped past Jamie Stuart and set up Liam Blakeman whose goal-bound drive drew a fine save from Ashley Bayes.This narrow escape seemed to galvanise the Blues and the impressive Ashley Nicholls and Tom Williamson, on for Martin, saw ther efforts well saved by Harrison. But the homesters had one more treat for their fans when in the 88th minute Williamson's astute pass put Kightly clear and he rifled the ball into the top corner of the net with all the confidence of a man in prime form.

Grays Athletic: Bayes, Mawer, Smith, Stuart, Green, Kightly, Nicholls, Martin (Williamson 77), Poole, Oli (Boylan 67), McLean (Turner 67).
Subs Not Used: Knowles, Sangare.

Booked: Martin.

Goals: McLean (20, 29) Kightly (42, 87)

Att: 1024

Ref: L Hodgson (Nuneaton)

Fans Man of the Match: Nicholls

Photo: © Robbie McClintock