Grays Athletic 2–1 Biggleswade Town

From Mill Field

FA Trophy first qualifying round

 

GRAYS Athletic are into the second qualifying round after a narrow win against a spirited Biggleswade Town side.

Goals from Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Alex Addai were enough, although Biggleswade could perhaps feel they did enough for a draw.

Grays had already dispatched of Biggleswade United in the early stages of the FA Cup and were looking to get over the heartache of missing out on qualifying for the first round with victory over Town.

And it didn’t take long for them to get into their stride, with the opening goal just six minutes in coming.

A ball was played into the path of Fortnam-Tomlinson, who had run from a deep position, and he finished emphatically through Ian Brown’s legs.

Grays came close to doubling the lead through Jake Hutchings, with Brown blocking him at the near post, but the Southern Premier League side were growing into the match.

Max York was unable to divert a corner over the line from close range, with Michael King denied by the post when it was easier to score.

Grays’ second was well-worked and well-finished by Addai. Fortnam-Tomlinson played in the winger who burst into the box, nicking the ball ahead of Brown and finishing into the roof of the net.

Fortnam-Tomlinson hit the bar as Grays finished the half in the ascendancy.

Into the second-half, Grays should have wrapped up the match when Jay Leader sliced an effort wide with the goal gaping and, out of nothing, Biggleswade got a goal back.

A neat break saw Sam Merson cross for Hilliard and he tapped home with ease.

King drilled an effort wide of the near post as Biggleswade pressed for a leveller, with only a sprawling save from Johnson denying Merson.

Mason Bloomfield missed a golden chance to make it 3-1 minutes after taking to the field, as he headed unmarked past the post.

Fortnam-Tomlinson was denied a second by Brown but Grays held on for the win.

 

Grays Athletic: Johnson, Ifill, Cummings, Leader, Cronin, Hutchings, Stevens (Bentley), Addai, Burnett-Williams (Bloomfield), Fortnam-Tomlinson, Carlos (Agombar)

Biggleswade Town: Brown, York, Coulson, Lewis, Hoyte, Iwedmno, Hilliard (Offiong), Rees, King (Burnett), Merson, Marsh