Margate - Grays - FA CUP REPLAY - 03/04

[ChrisJonesGrays]

hi - am in need of some assistance with your lineup, subs and any cards received that evening at Ashford.

 

Does anyone have the details available?? It is for a new Grays ath website I am creating.

 

Thanks and good luck for the season.

chris

[Coffin Ender]

I have an incomplete line-up, my best guess is this...

 

Phil Smith, Greg Oates, Darren Annon, Sam Sodje, Graham Porter, Chris Zoricich, Jay Saunders, Jake Leberl, Jean-Michel Sigere, Ian Pulman, Terry McFlynn. Darren Watson as a used sub (dunno who for).

 

Our goals were from Saunders, Leberl and Annon.

 

[Wellsie]

Here we go:

 

MFC 3 – 3 Grays Ath – Grays won 3-1 on pens

 

After coming back from 3-1 down for the second time in the tie, Margate went out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle on penalties to Grays Athletic at The Homelands (Ashford) tonight.

 

The opening period of the game was non-eventful – both sides cautiously feeling their way into the game. If anyone, it was Margate that looked to be slightly on top. On the quarter hour mark, Adrian Clarke broke away down the Margate left and crossed into the penalty area. Pulman picked the ball up but put his effort just wide of Capelton’s right hand post.

 

But it was the visitors that took the lead on 25 minutes. Graham Porter lost possession on the Margate left; the ball was moved quickly across to the Grays left where Thurgood made no mistake.

 

Margate pushed forward and a free kick on the right found it’s way to Terry McFlynn who hit a dipping half volley that was comfortably saved by Capelton. Shortly after, a break down the left hand side involving McFlynn ended with Pulman putting his second effort wide of the Grays left hand post.

 

On 30 minutes, Grays forced Porter into another error, but fortunately for the home side the cross-come-shot went across the face of the Margate goal and out for a goal-kick. Three minutes later Leroy Griffiths might have done better when he broke through on the Grays left and hit the ball across the home penalty area from left to right.

 

With half time approaching, Greg Oates prevented the ball going out of play before Jake Leberl took the ball down the Margate right and crossed for McFlynn but his effort went over the bar from just inside the Grays area. Unfortunately for the home side, Oates looked to have pulled a hamstring in keeping the ball in play and was replaced by Billy Edwards.

 

Margate started the second half struggling to retain possession for any length of time – Grays closing Margate players down quickly – but Jake Leberl did have an effort that went over the bar after four minutes.

 

With 20 minutes remaining, Darren Watson replaced Ian Pulman and immediately looked to be causing the centre of the Grays defence a few problems. A good passage of Margate play ended when Terry McFlynn picked the ball up just outside the Grays area and hit a goal bound half volley, but the keeper saved his effort. Further pressure on the Grays defence gave a chance to Darren Annon, but his effort went high and wide.

 

A Margate free-kick from the right caused panic in the Grays defence, but just as it seemed a blue shirt might force the ball over the line, Capelton was able to smother the ball on the line. Gate were getting more on top and Darren Watson might have done better as the ball fell to him after an initial effort from Sigere - but he put his effort over the bar from 6 yards.

 

But again the good work was almost undone when a suicidal back-pass to Phil Smith from Graham Porter almost led to a second Grays’ goal.

 

With the clock running down, Margate were awarded a free kick on the right hand side of the Greys' area. McFlynn floated in the kick and Jay Saunders headed home to put Margate on level terms with their Ryman League opponents.

 

In the last few minutes of normal time, Margate might have taken victory through Darren Watson, and Grays had two late corners – the second leading to some last ditch desperate defending.

 

So the tie went into extra-time, and the first period was much like the first half of normal time – cautious from both sides. But on the stroke of half time, Thurgood got his and Grays’ second to put the Essex side 2-1 up. Early in the second period and long range lob had Capelton back-pedalling, touching an effort over the bar for a Margate corner. But it was Grays that extended their lead with Eastwood slicing through the home defence to score on 106 minutes.

 

Again Margate pushed forward – Porter joining the attack. And the pressure paid off when Leberl hit a tremendous effort from just inside the box to set up a tense final 7 minutes. But more drama was to follow when with three minutes of normal time in extra time remaining Darren Annon hit the back of the net from around 8 yards to bring the tie back to all square at 3-3. There were a few nerve jangling minutes before the final whistle from Mr Singh signalled the end of 120 minutes of football and start of the penalty shoot out.

 

With Phil Smith defending the goal, Eastwood steeped up to score and put Grays 1-0 up. Then, Darren Annon – scorer of Margate’s equaliser in extra time stepped up but his effort was too close to Capelton who saved. Thurgood put his penalty out of Phil Smith’s reach to put Grays 2-0 up, but McFlynn couldn’t do likewise – he also placed his spot kick too close to the keeper, even after a re-take. Leroy Griffiths then stepped up looking to seal a FA Cup first round place, but his effort hit the bar. Darren Watson scored Margate’s first penalty of the shoot out to make it 2-1 to Grays. Robinson scored for Grays putting the visitors 3-1 up, and when Sigere put his effort too close to the keeper Grays were through.

 

Maragte: P.Smith, G.Oates / B.Edwards(44), D.Annon, S.Sodje, J.Saunders, G.Porter, J.Leberl, I.Pullman / D.Watson(70), T.McFlynn, A.Clarke / C.Zoricich(46), J.Sigere

Subs not used: C.Mitten, C.Stadhart.

 

Grays Athletic: M.Capleton, L.Williams / Bradshaw(70), Robinson, D.Lunan, E.Youds, Thurgood, Marwa, Carthy, Eastwood, T.Lock / A.Olayinka(70), L.Griffiths.

Subs not used: Stimson, Bruce, S.Barrett.

 

Attendance: 411