Grays battered in the Dripping Pan

10:06pm Wednesday 31st October 2007

Comments (2)   Have your say »

Lewes 2, Grays Athletic 0

GRAYS are no strangers to FA Cup disappointment when Mansfield Town are in their sights, but this time they won't even get the chance ti trot out at Field Mill in the first round of the FA Cup.

Two years ago Grays were riding high when they surged through to a to meeting with the League Two side that went sadly wrong on the night, but this time it is Lewes who take their vocal Sussex supporters north into the limelight.

Grays could - and should - have won this final qualifying round at the first time of asking on Saturday but when it came to a second chance at their own Dripping Pan, Lewes fried Grays alive.

Justin Edinburgh's side did make a bold start, coming out sharply with bold triangular movement and short passing, looking dangerous on the flanks.

However, they were only flattering to deceive.

Their bright beginning produced just one real chance but Danny Kedwell got on the end of a tenth minute corner only to head the ball straight at keeper Steve Williams.

From then on it was all downhill and no-one was really surprised when Lewes took the lead in the 23rd minute.

It was a bad goal to concede from a side that has prided itself on its defence. Ian Simpemba was left completely unmarked in the box at a corner and, unlike Kedwell, he didn't spurn the chance and headed his side into the lead.

The bright sparks that had been their early assets were now their major flaw, with Dennis Oli and a clearly laboured Gavin Grant unable to track back.

Lewes exploited this to the full and they stretched their lead in the 41st minute when Dale Binns and former Blues man Anthony Barness combined well on the left flank.

Barness fired the ball into the box and the normally resolute Jon Ashton let the ball run across him only to see Lewes top scorer Paul Booth hit home his 12th goal of the season.

Edinburgh stuck to his gameplan in the second half, though he swapped Ben Watson for the ineffective Grant after 50 minutes.

The lack of a plan B was clearly alarming and spurred chairman Mick Woodward to intervene in a bid to instil some life into his players.

What implications that has for Edinburgh remains to be seen but a man of his experience shouldn't be short of inspiration unless the emotion has been knocked out of him by Grays' complex situation.

In fairness, the visitors did lift it a bit for the last ten minutes and produced a series of attacks and chances, but each one was embarrassingly fluffed.

Lewes comfortably held out to the final whistle that sparked joyous celebrations.

Their fans now look forward to the glamour of the first round proper, while Grays are left to reflect on what might have been.

So close on Saturday, a million miles away tonight!