Maldon and Tiptree earned 3 points with a splendid performance against a Grays team hoping to bring an end to their disappointing win less run. The visitors more than held their own in the first half and in the second repulsed everything that the home side threw at them and on more than one occasion could have scored a second goal.
 |
| Players walk on to the pitch. |
Grays started the game at a frantic pace and in only the second minute Ryan's powerful close range shot rebounded down and out from the visitors cross bar. Sweeney, against his former club, was then thwarted when clear on goal by visiting keeper Stevens with a brave save at the forwards feet. The visitors responded with Berquez and Stevenson freeing Wall but his pass to Milner was just to long, then Wall's shot was blocked after a a poor kick out by home keeper Tucker, another ex Maldon and Tiptree player. Although the home side shared the play it was the visitors who looked more threatening and after 22 minutes Tucker just saved Berquez's header from a Collins free kick before Milner latched onto a poor back pass by Flynn, only to see his half hit shot roll agonisingly just wide of goal. Just on 25 minutes Carlos, for Grays saw his shot saved after receiving from Pope but a minute later Maldon and Tiptree took the lead when Wall's head on from a long ball out of defence was confidently taken through on goal by Stevenson who calmly put his effort past the on rushing Tucker.
 |
| Grays 0 - 1 Maldon & Tiptree |
Just one minute later Sweeney, for Grays had the ball taken off his foot by Cousins just as he was about to pull the trigger before the visitors Bunce saw his shot from 22 metres fly just over. Wall, at the forefront of Maldon and Tiptree's attack was having a fine game and continually won the ball, often against more than one opponent and he was involved in a good move down the right from which Stevenson fired just wide.
Carlos was usually prominent in any Grays moves but even he had difficulty getting anything going on a really heavy pitch where the short ball game was never going to be successful and most long balls finished up with the opposition.
Half Time Grays 0 Maldon and Tiptree 1
With the considerable slope and wind in their favour Grays looked to apply pressure on the visitors and soon after the restart Flynn shot over before Sweeney headed wide from a Carlos cross. Maldon and Tiptree were also looking for more goals and after 54 minutes Stevenson's shot from the edge of the area was only kept out by a fine save by Tucker at the expense of a corner and from this Wall had a powerful shot which was again well saved by Tucker. After Carlos shot well over the bar Beaney then shot wide after being put clear by Ryan but Grays tactic of putting long high balls into the visitors penalty area was proving meat and drink for the visitors central defenders Flanagan and Cousins who were dominant in the air and let very little past them on the ground. With visiting full backs Coyne and Collins blocking any moves down the line the crosses generally were coming in from much too wide and visiting keeper Stevens was not being put under any great deal of pressure.
 |
| Maldon attack in the second half. |
After 70 minutes Grays substitute, Olima, headed over before two free kicks by Carlos on the edge of Maldon and Tiptree's penalty area were blocked by the defensive wall. Wall for the visitors then controlled a long ball on his chest before seeing his shot saved by Tucker before a Coleman cross flew across goal with no one to apply the finishing touch. Despite 3 substitutions Grays method of play did not change and with all of Maldon and Tiptree's players working tirelessly clear cut goal chances were not being made. Indeed the only serious effort on goal came 10 minutes from the end when Olima's shot hit the very top of the bar as it flew over then visiting keeper Stevens was called into action to save from Olima.
Manager Mike Flanagan was extremely pleased with the whole teams performance and work rate and was especially gratified at Wall and Stevenson's performance up front. He is hoping that the team can take this level of performance into the next few games and finish as high in the league as possible.
Man of the Match: Ian Cousins
Final score Grays 0 Maldon and Tiptree 1
Grays
1 Tucker, 2 Pope, 21 Sweeney (Olima 63), 4 Baker, 15 Ryan, 6 Cooper, 7 Bunce, 8 Beaney, 19 Flynn 9 (Dennis 72), 10 Agombar, 11 Carlos (Small 83)
Unused Substitutes
Ikumelo, Muguo
Maldon and Tiptree
Stevens, Coyne, Collins, Coleman, Flanagan, Cousins, Milner, Berquez (Ladapo 78), Wall, Stevenson, Pearman
Unused Substitutes
Bansor, Wiffen, Saltwell
"These pictures are downloaded from Facebook from Buckbys Photography."
No comments:
Post a Comment