Grays Athletic vs Thamesmead Town (From Thurrock Gazette)

4:57pm

Full time scores from the borough's other games:

Ryman Premier:

Wingate and Finchley 0 - 1 East Thurrock United

Thurrock 4 - 0 Kingstonian

Ryman Division One North:

Tilbury 2 - 4 Maldon and Tiptree

Potters Bar Town 0 - 5 Aveley

4:55pm

So three's easy for Blues. Goals from Sweeney, Carlos (both in the first half) and West in the second, sink Thamesmead here.

Good win for Blues. Thamesmead much better in the second half, but never looked like getting anything out of this.

The three goal-scorers the stand out performers. It's another great shift from Beaney in midfield and Lalite stroke the ball about well. Sweeney man of the match though!

4:52pm

Full time at Tilbury: Dockers 2 - 4 Maldon and Tiptree

4:51pm

That wasn't that. TTFC have had a couple of half chances since, but nothing to trouble Blues who are now in possession and should see this out.

4:48pm

4:47pm

Fantastic diving, last ditch tackle by Baker to prevent a TTFC consolation. Kamurasi later collects. And that could well be that!

4:46pm

Grays sub: Joshua Oyinsan replaces Jack West

4:46pm

Really smart passage of play from Blues sees Beaney pirouette to beat his midfield marker, he sprays a ball out to Bunce whose cross is cleared. Lalite picks it up but his volley is wide.

4:41pm

4:41pm

Not sure how it isn't 4! Flynn dinks the ball between two defenders, releasing Bunce into a crossing position. West can't connect with the ball on the 6 yard box, but Small does, with Budd somehow keeping the ball out.

4:38pm

Grays sub: Lee Flynn comes on for Joao Carlos.

4:38pm

Great stuff from West and Carlos. West plays in Carlos, who bears down at goal, drawing Budd off his line. He then plays the ball across goal, with West their to tap it home.

3-0 Blues. Game over.

4:35pm

GOAL! GRAYS ATHLETIC 3 - 0 Thamesmead Town - Jack West

4:35pm

Good stuff from West. Takes the ball down on the right hand edge of the box, cuts inside with the ball and loops a shot at goal. Just wide.

4:31pm

A great atmosphere at Rush Green. Blues fans in good voice!

Their side have 15 minutes to see this out.

As Danny Kerrigan strides forward before unleashing a shot from 25 yards. Kamurasi saves and Baker heads clear another Thamesmead corner.

They've defended set pieces very well in this second half, have Grays.

4:29pm

Going to be a yellow card for Leon Lalite here. Deemed to have challenged for the ball unfairly in the air.

Chance for Thamesmead as Dawson stands over the free kick.

Blues half deal with the ball into the box, conceding a corner. Pope heads out at the near post.

4:27pm

More good football from Sweeney who has been excellent today. He picks out West after taking the ball out of the air delightfully. But West takes a touch and hits a shot wide.

4:25pm

4:25pm

Thamesmead sub: Adriano Lawson on for Malachi Hudson

4:24pm

Great football from Blues, as Sweeney picks out Carlos with a lovely ball. Carlos takes it down, takes on Omogbehin, before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot. No one's there for Blues though.

4:22pm

Some respite now for Grays, who hold the ball in the Maldon half, with Small getting a shot away eventually.

4:21pm

4:20pm

Thamesmead applying pressure now and playing football in the right areas. Pope's forced to clear for a corner which Pruberts takes.

Shakey spell for Blues, who are struggling to clear their lines effectively.

Lea Dawson forces an excellent low save out of Kamurasi, heading another cross towards goal, before poking the rebound wide.

4:16pm

Free kick in a dangerous position for Thamesmead after Hudson is fouled with three Blues players around him.

The ball in by Dawson is good but headed behind for a corner.

That's a super ball in, too, and Lewis Tozer has his header cleared off the line by Sweeney!

4:14pm

4:13pm

Thamesmead are changing their goalkeeper. This has to be an injury to Hogan.

He is replaced by Rob Budd.

4:12pm

4:11pm

Another good chance for Blues! Joao Carlos beats Fem Omogbehin before crossing low. Small at the backpost can't turn the ball home.

4:10pm

Lea Dawson then comes close for Thamesmead. They do win a free kick from the right. It's whipped in and Dawson, unmarked diverts the ball goalward, but Kamurasi palms it away.

4:09pm

Thamesmead Town fans saying that they aren't getting any 50/50 free kicks. Fair point, as Hudson looks to be fouled as he carries the ball into the Blues boss, referee says no.

4:06pm

203 here at Rush Green this afternoon.

4:06pm

Bunce collects a poor clearance, carries the ball into the box before lashing a shot to the near post. It's saved by Hogan.

Moments later, Joao Carlos heads over Bunce's looped cross. He should have scored.

4:04pm

Brighter start to the second half from the visitors, Kamurasi already forced into action, gathering Hudson's cross.

3:55pm

So here then, Blues lead 2-0 through Sweeney's clever opener after 12 minutes and Joao Carlos 8th of the season in the 15th.

Blues have looked so dangerous going forward. Sweeney's endeavour has been excellent while West has held the ball up well. Small has been lively on the right and Carlos is ever a threat on the opposite flank.

Thamesmead have looked very toothless, with only one shot of note on target that Kamurasi dealt with comfortably.

3:52pm

Half time scores from around the borough:

Ryman Premier:

Thurrock 3 - 0 Kingstonian

Wingate and Finchley 0 - 1 East Thurrock United

Ryman Division One North:

Potters Bar Town 0 - 2 Aveley

Tilbury 2 - 2 Maldon and Tiptree

3:48pm

The game's gone quiet as the first half ebbs away. Explosive start by Grays, but they've taken their foot off the gas a little.

3:44pm

3:42pm

More probing balls from the Blues midfield towards West and Sweeney. Can Blues nick a third before half time? Rob Carter applying a bit of pressure to the host's backline, but Pope clears.

3:41pm

3:39pm

Lovely ball forward to West. As he gets into the box, he looks to cut the ball back, but the defender just does enough to prevent the ball going through to Sweeney.

3:38pm

Thamesmead have only had one notable effort on Kamurasi's goal, an effort he saved well. They've certainly been disappointing

3:35pm

Thamesmead's Sean Roberts is getting treatment for a head injury. The referee (bizarrely?!) has just signalled to the Town bench that a sub is needed... not his call, surely?

But Roberts is indeed coming off, holding a towel to his face.

He is replaced by Enoch Adje.

3:30pm

3:29pm

Thamesmead really struggling to deal with Blues movement and imagination going forward. Sweeney, West and Carlos are tearing Town to shreds. Still 2-0.

3:26pm

Danny Francis got Tilbury's second at Chadfields.

3:25pm

Moment of madness as Hogan comes out to collect a long ball, but under pressure, he isn't sure what to do with it. He lets it run into the box and West almost nicks it, before the ref gives a foul against the Blues striker.

3:24pm

3:21pm

Good driving run forward by Bunce, who then tries to lob Hogan from 30 yards out, but it goes a long way over the bar.

3:20pm

3:19pm

3:19pm

Smart take by Kamurasi, diving to his right to prevent a shot by Hudson going past him.

3:17pm

Long ball by Kamurasi is collected by Joao Carlos who goes through on goal, before putting the ball past Hogan on the half volley.

Could be a long afternoon this for Thamesmead.

Carlos' 8th of the season!

3:14pm

Clever goal by Joe Sweeney. Grays work the ball into the box, West tees up Sweeney who chips the ball into the far corner, beyond a sprawling Hogan. A deserved goal after a good start.

As Thamesmead Town go close from a corner just seconds later

3:11pm

3:10pm

3:10pm

3:08pm

Baker then shoots just wide! He picks up a blocked Small shot and hits a low effort on the spin, which trickles past the post.

It took a deflection in fact. The corner beats everyone though.

3:07pm

Joao Carlos corner is towards Junior Baker at the back post, but Hogan just gets a hand to it to clear.

3:06pm

Blues have seen most of the ball in the opening moments, but are yet to create a clean cut opportunity. Their first effort from goal comes from range from Beaney, flying high over the bar.

3:02pm

Very healthy turn out at Rush Green. Blues beat Ilford on Tuesday with a last minute Junior Baker header.

They've made a bright start here - little of note to report yet though.

2:59pm

OK, the players are out! Blues are bidding to win their third home game on the spin.

TTFC have a good home record and a very good defensive record.

2:56pm

Grays Athletic:

Kamurasi; Pope, Baker, Kirby (c), Bunce; Carlos, Beaney, Lalite, Small; West, Sweeney.

Subs: Flynn, Oyinsan, Smith, Marshall, East

Thamesmead Town:

Hogan; Omogbehin, Prubets, Kerrigan, Tozer (c); Donovan, Hopkins, Dawson, Roberts; Hudson, Carter

Subs: (to follow)

2:52pm

Elsewhere in the Ryman Division One North, Tilbury host table-toppers Maldon and Tiptree while Aveley make a tricky trip to Potters Bar Town.

There will be updates on all of those clashes.

Here at Rush Green though we have team news!

2:49pm

Good afternoon! Welcome to our live coverage of Grays Athletic vs Thamesmead Town.

Two sides flying high in the league go head-to-head at Rush Green today.

I'll be keeping you posted on games involving the borough's other teams.

In the Ryman Premier League, Thurrock welcome Kingstonian to Ship Lane and John Coventry's Rocks are at Wingate and Finchley.