Grays Athletic Preview

[Match Reports]

__________________ Grays Athletic vs York City
________________________The Recreation Ground, Grays
_____________________iSaturday 20th August 2005, 3.00pm
__________________________


City travel down south for the first time this season to newly promoted Grays Athletic.

Grays strolled to the Conference South title last season, winning the FA Trophy along the way. They scored 118 goals to seal promotion. This means Saturday's trip to Essex will be a very tough one, with Grays touted as one of the promotion favourites for this season.

Both sides are in good form, with City of course recording a superb 4-1 victory at Southport, and Grays winning 6-1 on Tuesday night.

For City, Billy McEwan will more than likely stick to the same side that produced such a convincing victory. This would mean maintaining a three pronged attack, with loanee Darren Mansaram, Clayton Donaldson and Tuesday's hat trick hero Joe O'Neill starting. However, McEwan may decide to bring in last season's highest scorer Andy Bishop after an impressive substitute display at Haig Avenue. With Grays being a strong side, another possibility is bringing backl an extra midfielder into the side, with Mallon the likely candidate. Another possible change could be in the goalkeeping department, with Farjan Afandiyev and David Stockdale in line to come into the side following porter's erratic display on Tuesday.

For Grays, manager Mark Stimson will be likely to stick with the same side, barring any injuries picked up in recent training. Midfielder John Martin netted a hat trick on Tuesday, with goals from Dennis Oli, Glenn Poole and former Spurs striker Jamie Slabber completing the rout. Particular players that City should beware of include right winger Gary Hooper, described as one the team's best players despite being only 17, Oli, who showed his potential against Burton in last season's FA Trophy, and centre midfielder Thurgood, who supposedly interested Barnet in pre season.

How the Teams Line Up

York City (Possible line-up) – Porter; Price, McGurk, Hotte, Peat; Convery, Panther, Dunning; Donaldson, O'Neill, Mansaram.
Substitutes; Afandiyev, Merris, Bishop, Dudgeon, Mallon.

Grays Athletic (Possible line up) – Bayes; Sambrook, Matthews, Stuart, Nutter; Hooper, Thurgood, Martin, Poole; Oli, Battersby.
Substitutes; Eyre, Bruce, Brennan, Slabber, Kightly.

Grays Travel Information

By Car: From Junction 30 of the M25, take the A13 towards Southend. At the Grays exit follow the signs to the town centre. Upon entering the one-way system, keep left then continue up the hill for about 1/2 mile. Turn right into Bridge Road. The ground is on your right.

Parking within the ground is very limited, but there is a small, free public car park opposite the main entrance. Grays train station is a seven minute walk away and there is a large multi-storey car park just six minutes away, near the station.

By Train: Grays is on the London-Tilbury-Southend line, from Fenchurch Street. The ground is about seven minutes' walk from the station.

After coming out of Grays station, turn right, approx 800 yards, then turn right again into Clarence Road. You can enter the ground via Bradbourne Road on your right. Alternatively, for access to the bar, keep going along Clarence Road, turn right into Bridge Road, and the main entrance is on your right.

Admission Prices: Adults:£10, Senior Citizens: £6, Youths 11-16: £6, Students (with valid ID): £6, Children under 11 accompanied by an adult: £2, Transfer to seat: £2.

Form Guide

York City – DW – Crawley (H), Southport (A).

Grays Athletic – DW – Burton (A), Gravesend (H).

Related Links

Catch A Match / Away Travel
Travel Information for Hereford (If it is updated)

YorkCityFC.com Prediction League

Official Grays Athletic Website
GAFC Message Board

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