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Grays Athletic 3, Rushden & Diamonds 0

GRAYS had the better of the opening exchanges, though their nerves were tested in the second minute when Diamonds striker Sam Smith flashed a header across the face of goal that just missed the target.

Having weathered the early Grays possession the visitors began to gain in confidence and looked an improving side but the wind was taken out of their sails on 16 minutes when Jamie Taylor pounced on a mistake by Chris Hope just outside the area and confidently raced towards goal and swept the ball home nonchalantly.

Grays' problem in recent games has been maintaining their lead but the woeful Rushden defending gave them the opportunity to stretch their advantage in the 35th minute when nervous keeper Martyn Margarson and defender Jon Challinor contrived to let in Danny Kedwell and he confidently stroked the ball home for this 14th goal of the season.

Challinor didn't emerge for the second half as an injury took its toll and he was replaced by Lawrence Lambley.

Neither side could seize the early advantage in a rather nondescript start to the second half, with Grays making a change on 52 minutes when Aaron O'Connor was replaced by Barry Cogan.

They then brought on Scott Taylor for Stuart Thurgood just after the hour mark and the substitute grabbed Grays' third.

However, that wasn't before Danny Knowles showed his ability with a remarkable triple save before turning the spotlight over to Taylor.

He proved what a class act he is when Neil McCafftery chipped a lovely ball over the Rushden defence and the youngster controlled the ball with his chest and neatly fired it past the keeper to put the game beyond doubt.

Grays: Danny Knowles, Andy Sambrook (Jeff Goulding 73), Simon Downer, Jamie Stuart, Adam Gross, Aaron O'Connor, Neil McCafferty, Stuart Thurgood (Scott Taylor 61), Marlon Patterson, Jamie Taylor, Danny Kedwell. Subs not used: Jake Whincup, Barry Cogan, Cameron Mawer.

Diamonds: Martyn Margarson, Curtis Osano, Philip Gulliver, Chris Hope (Ben Nunn 77), Dean Howell, Jon Challinor (Lawrence Lambley 46), Tom Shaw, Andy Gooding (Jake Beecroft 71), Abdelhalim El Kholti, Sam Smith, Conal Platt. Subs not used: Curtis Woodhouse, Alex Bolt.

Att 524.

9:48pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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