Billericay Town 0 Grays Athletic 1 (Pre-Season Friendly)

Tue, July 31, 2007. Kick off: 7:45 PM in Matches

Match Report by Martin Candler

With Dennis Oli, Simon Downer and Stuart Thurgood nursing knocks, Justin Edinburgh introduced two trialists, James Lawson (lately of Stevenage) and Mark Marshall (Carshalton) and both produced promising performances.

Grays were sound at the back with Jon Ashton prominent and it was he who snuffed out the homesters‘ best opportunity in the first half with a brilliant block on Leon Hunter.

However, it was Grays who dominated proceedings throughout the match with Ben Watson, Karl Murray and James Lawson spurning good chances. Danny Kedwell then hit the bar when well placed.

The second half continued in the same vein with Grays holding the edge but looking a bit pedestrian in the final third. The diminutive Marshall came on and began to stretch the hitherto solid Billericay defence and after Daren Blewitt and Rob Swaine were withdrawn through injury, Grays stepped up a gear but missed a hatful of chances.

Kedwell, Marshall, Craig McAllister, Jamie Day and Kedwell, again, failed to beat the 17 year old keeper, Jack Buckfield, who was later led from the field after a shuddering challenge from Kedwell .

With just 4 minutes to go a great run to the by-line by Murray saw him pull the ball back for the persistent Kedwell to side-foot home to give Grays the spoils and cap a useful run-out and a further opportunity to shake summers rust out of the system!

Grays Athletic: Knowles, Sambrook, Stuart, Ashton, Murray, Hearn, El-Kholti,(Marshall) Watson, (McAllister) Lawson, (Day) Cooksey, Kedwell,

Subs not used: Haverson, Bodkin, Flitney, Gross, O'Connor.

Goalscorer: Kedwell(86)

Booked: Kedwell

Trialists: Trialists: Jack Haverson (Bournemouth) Mark Marshal (Carshalton) James Lawson (Southend United)

Match Day Pictures by GAFC Official Photographer Graeme Truby