No 'Gray' day for Scholars after solid performance

Despite going a goal behind on the Astroturf against Grays Athletic Fc the Scholars soon came back to claim all three points

Grays made a bright start as they broke quickly in the 9th minute and the home team’s Kieran Bishop fired in a shot from just outside the penalty area only to see his effort crash back off the far post. Then Grays took the 2 minutes later as another quick break on their right as Kai Brown finished off a pin point near post cross.

The visitor’s were enjoying more of the possession and were unlucky not to equalise after 27 minutes when a couple of corners tested be hosts, first Michael Murray saw his effort deflected then Lee O’Leary from the resulting corner saw his flick well saved by the keeper in the top corner.

But on 34 minutes Andy Lomas got the Scholars back on level terms from a free kick wide on the right and his in-swinging kick eluded everyone and went into the back of the net off a combination of post and keeper.

The Scholars kept pressing, Billy Lobjoit shot over the bar, Andy Lomas’s cross was deflected for a corner before the visitors took the lead.

As Eion Casey challenged for the ball on the edge of the penalty area the referee adjudged that defender Jack Fowler took him down, MICHAEL MURRAY stepped up to send the ball past home keeper Lamar Johnson.

After the interval the visitors took control and nearly extended the lead in the 53rd minute when Michael Murray’s free kick found Eion Casey in space outside the area and his cross shot was tipped over by the keeper.

But less than a minute later EION CASEY found the net after a near post corner was flicked on and he steered the ball home.

A couple of other efforts at either end saw Billy Lobjoit shoot over and in the 71st minute Grays had a goal dis-allowed for offside. But the visitors saw out the remaining twenty minutes to take all three points.

[b]Scorers – Andy Lomas 34, Michael Murray (p) 40 – Eion Casey 54

MoM: Michael Murray

Team: Berkley Laurencin, Billy Baird, Andy Lomas, Lee O’Leary, Steve Brown, Chris Doyle, Billy Lobjoit (sub Frank Keita 73m), Billy Adcock, Michael Murray (sub Pierre Etienne 83), George Nicholas, Eion Casey

Not Used: g/k Rokas Janilionas, David Sota

Updated 16:05 - 1 Sep 2019 by Jeff Barnes