Grays Athletic 3 Tonbridge 1

Match 75/14/1184 - Wednesday 25th March 2015 - Ryman Premier

Grays Athletic (3) 3 Agombar 13, Dumaka 35, 42
Tonbridge (0) 1 Medlock 80
Att. 204

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 70/5,498
New Ground: 274

Match Report

Tuesday’s results that brought wins for both Harrow Borough and Witham Town saw the gap between Tonbridge and the relegation places reduced to just three points, it was a wake-up call to all who thought safety was all but assured. Unfortunately, it seems the message failed to reach the people that influence these situations more than anyone – the players.

This performance at Mill Lane, Aveley was an absolute shocker and the face and voice of manager Steve McKimm in his post-match interview was one of, not so much anger, but despair as he spoke of being hurt by his players display. This was the first time this season I would accuse the team of lacking desire, once the first goal was conceded after 13 minutes the heads went down and were never raised again.

The game was never going to be an easy one. Grays are on a charge towards the play-off places with this win their fifth in seven unbeaten games. Up-front they have two quality strikers in Swindon loanee Harry Agombar and Dumebi Dumaka whilst the 37-year-old ex-Gillingham midfielder, Mark Bentley found it a stroll in midfield.

The team news on arrival at Mill Lane was a mixture of good and bad, surprising and perhaps predictable. The surprise good news was that Billy Medlock was back, on loan from Sutton United. Tonbridge’s early season goal machine has had little fortune since his move to the Conference South club. Injuries have blighted his time and an earlier opportunity for his return to Tonbridge was denied as he was not considered fit.

It was disappointing to see Tom Hadler’s name missing on the team as he had been recalled by Gillingham. As this was the second time that he has been loaned and recalled to Priestfield, it was understandable that a lot of Tonbridge supporters are more than a little pissed off with the League One club. The reason was given that he had an opportunity to be in and around the first team in the final weeks of the season and that Justin Edinburgh wanted to see what he had in terms of staff before making decisions on player’s futures. Fair enough, but the recall left Tonbridge in a bit of a hole and with an attempt to bring in another loan goalkeeper thwarted by just a minute in terms of registration, it was reserve team keeper, Jack Kelly that took his place between the sticks.

Tonbridge started the game on the front foot and Medlock brought a save from Lamar Johnson and Jerome Sobers should have asked question of the goalkeeper when his header from the resultant corner cleared the bar.

That was as good as it got for the Angels in a horrific first half. After 13 minutes, after the linesman missed a clear offside, Grays were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box from which Agombar curled his shot into the corner giving the young keeper little chance.

Tonbridge spent the next 20 minutes chasing shadows with James Folkes, in particular, being given a harrowing time. Finally the pressure told after 35 minutes when Dumaka eluded challenges to roll the ball past Kelly and over the goal line despite the despairing effort of Folkes on the line.

A lifeline might have been thrown towards Tonbridge when Jordan Wilson was sent off for kicking out at Jack Parter, it seemed a harsh decision but there was very little argument on the pitch.

Two minutes later the game was effectively over as Grays took their lead to three. Corey Davidson, who had led Folkes a merry dance, brought a parrying save from Kelly but the ball fell to Dumaka who fired into the empty net.

In the second half Grays might light of their personnel disadvantage and easily contained Tonbridge and it took until 10 minutes from time for the visitors to get on the score sheet. For once, Nathan Elder was given a decent cross to challenge and the resultant clearance fell to Medlock who rifled home in typical Billy fashion to reduce the deficit.

It was all too little, too late and the ride home was spent deep in thought that now, surely, everybody knows this is a genuine relegation fight with two home games against fellow relegation fodder in Hornchurch and Witham that take on must win status.

This was a first and last visit to Aveley’s Mill Lane as they close their doors at the end of the season to take up residence at a new stadium with a 3G pitch. At present it is unknown whether Grays will go with them, but, at present, it appears there is no prospect of a stadium of their own with planning permission having been denied on a site.