Non-League and Academy football writer

Grays Athletic were the visitors to Coles Park on Friday night, for an Isthmian League North Division fixture with the home side New Salamis. New Salamis started the match in 14th place, with Grays Athletic sitting in 16th place in the league. This was an entertaining and competitive match, which finished 3-2 to the home side, New Salamis. New Salamis started the match really well, playing the game at a good intensity. Shortly after New Salamis player Williams Danquah hit an effort with the outside of his boot wide of the Grays Athletic goal, New Salamis took the lead on seven minutes. A low pass from Micah Jackson to Joe Waight inside the away team’s penalty area, resulted in the centre-forward finishing clinically into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 1-0. A Micah Jackson corner-kick, which was delivered into the Grays Athletic box, was headed over the goal by Tommy Boxer, before Grays managed to create a fine chance of their own, at the opposite end of the pitch. With Alejandro Machado meeting a corner-kick inside the New Salamis box, his powerful header seemed destined to go into the goal, but for a fantastic reflex save from goalkeeper Reuben Rabstein, to push the ball away from the goal. The New Salamis goalkeeper made another fine save a couple of minutes later, this time saving well at his near post from Aron Gordon’s effort from the right side of the New Salamis penalty area.

From Wraynel Hercules’ well delivered free-kick into the Grays Athletic penalty area, Joe Waight headed an effort over the goal. Then, shortly afterwards, Aron Gordon hit an effort over the New Salamis goal, from the edge of their box. New Salamis would finish the first half strongly, however, with Kyle Lynch heading wide from a cross into the Grays Athletic penalty area. And in the 43rd minute of the match, New Salamis doubled their advantage in the game. After Joe Waight had passed the ball to the impressive Wraynel Hercules on the right side of the pitch in the Grays Athletic half of the pitch, the former Brentford B player surged into the penalty area, holding off a defender well in the process, before cleverly finishing low into the goal, with an outside of the boot finish at the near post, 2-0. During the early stages of the second half, Reuben Rabstein saved comfortably from Codey Cosgrave’s effort from 20 yards out. However, in the 50th minute of the game, Joe Waight got his second and New Salamis’ third goal of the game.

After Christos Batzelis’ low cross from the left flank wasn’t gathered properly by Grays Athletic goalkeeper Daniel Sambridge at his near post, the ball came to Joe Waight, who was able to finish low into the goal, from close range, 3-0. The three goal lead that the home side had didn’t last very long, with Grays Athletic getting a goal back in the game less than four minutes later, through experienced striker Phil Roberts. After Roberts had received Bobby Unwin’s pass on the right side of the New Salamis box, the 29 year old finished early on his right foot, with an excellent finish across goal, and into the bottom left hand corner, 3-1. New Salamis midfielder Kyle Lynch hit the crossbar of Daniel Sambridges’s goal, following an effort from the edge of the away team’s penalty area. Following on from that chance, Grays Athletic managed to create an excellent chance at the opposite end of the pitch. With Bobby Unwin receiving the ball on the right side of the New Salamis box, in space, but he put the ball wide of the goal, after slightly rushing his effort.

After the influential Alejandro Machado had an effort from distance deflected just wide of Reuben Rabstein’s goal, Grays Athletic managed to get their second goal of the game. Aron Gordon was challenged by Tommy Boxer close to the New Salamis penalty area, however, Gordon showed good balance to accelerate into the box and finish into the left corner of the goal, 3-2. After New Salamis player Kyle Lynch had a deflected effort from the edge of the Grays Athletic box gathered by Daniel Sambridge. Malaki Toussaint then hit an effort over the New Salamis goal from distance, before New Salamis legend and second half substitute Derek Asamoah (he was making his return to the club following a short spell at Brightlingsea Regent), headed the ball to Wraynel Hercules. He took the ball to the right side of the away team’s box, before having an effort well saved by Daniel Sambridge. The remainder of the game was all about the away side, as they pushed for an equalising goal. Reuben Rabstein saved an effort from Bobby Unwin at his near post, before Alejandro Machado headed wide from a long free-kick into the New Salamis box. In the final minutes of the game, Grays Athletic substitute Elliott Satorius hit a free-kick effort from the edge of New Salamis box, on the goal. However, Reuben Rabstein pushed the ball over the goal. 

In my opinion New Salamis deserved to win the match, despite Grays Athletic improving greatly in the second half. However, this was a really good game of football. With two goals and an assist, New Salamis centre-forward Joe Waight was my player of the match on Friday.