Grays Ath 8 v 0 Show Low, Arizona

Grays Athletic Women hosted visitors from Arizona, USA at Mayesbrook Park, Barking on Tuesday evening, in an entertaining invitational friendly – marking another step in our development as a leading community football club. The final scoreline made the game look far more one-sided than the showing on the pitch, but the Blues forward line was in unstoppable form.
The early exchanges were very even, with Grays starting the better, but Show Low coming into the game as they acclimatised to the typical East London weather of persistent drizzle and gusting wind – not quite what the visitors would be used to at home in the mountains of Arizona.
Twice early on Grays tried their luck from distance, Maizie Kelly shot wide and Christyana Kyriacou bringing a save from Aubrey Wilson, between the sticks for the visitors in the first half. But on 20 minutes, Daisy Stevenson broke the deadlock with strike from distance that wrong-footed the keeper.
The Blues back three of Francesca Whiting, Frankie Hendricks and Charlotte Marshall were very tidy in soaking up Show Low’s attempts to pass their way through to goal and playing their own way out of trouble.
Just before the half hour, Maizie Kelly tried a delicate chip from a free kick outside the box but couldn’t beat the keeper, but she wasn’t to be denied and moments later she created space for herself and fired a shot for a 2-0 lead. Kelly then nearly made it three just before half time, when Blues worked the ball well across the area but her shot went wide.

Half time: Grays Ath Women 2 v 0 Show Low

Grays came out for the second half all guns blazing and quickly racked up three more goals. Firstly, Millie Thompson beat second half goalkeeper, Jessica Lewis, with a shot into the far corner and then scored again two minutes later with an attempt that squirmed off the wet pitch under the keeper. And soon after, great work down the right by Sky Lazzam found Daisy Stevenson who netted her second of the night from close range.
Show Low then had one of their best chances of the night when a fine corner from their left caused consternation in the Blues defence but no-one was on hand to apply the finishing touch and the ball was bundled clear.
On 68 minutes, Bridgette Allen, off the bench, controlled the ball well at her feet, creating an opening for herself which she finished well for Grays’ sixth.
To their great credit, Show Low never gave up pressing forward but couldn’t find the sharpness in front of goal that their hosts showed all night.
Five minutes before the end Thompson got her hat-trick. Kelly’s corner found her unmarked in the box and she headed the ball just under the bar for 7-0. And the scoring was completed soon after by a Show Low defender accidentally and unfortunately diverting the ball into her own net off the wet surface.
The whole match was played in an excellent spirit and we thank the whole Show Low entourage for a great evening’s entertainment and trust they have an excellent stay in the UK for the rest of their time here.

Final score: Grays Ath Women 8 v 0 Show Low
Grays Ath starting XI: Lewis, Fletcher, Lynch, Marshall, Whiting, Foy, Kyriacou, Bostock, Stevenson, Kelly
Bench: Hamlin, Thompson, Lazzam, Wakefield-Carr, Allen, Hunt

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