Out-Standing win for Grays

MICHAEL Standing's double strike saw Grays take another high-flying scalp at the New Rec with today's victory.

Grays remain undefeated at home since October 9 and it is easy to see why. They don't panic, they keep going and are always looking for the chance to score.

Clues to the outcome of the game came in the first minute when Alan Power floated over a free kick which drifted through a statuesque Cambridge defence, though this time it was easily caught by United keeper Danny Potter.

Cambridge have had a real dip in form since they beat Torquay and Aldershot back to back in November. They came into this game on the back of being dumped out of the FA Trophy by local rivals Histon and it was expected that Grays would bear the brunt of the backlash.

But it never came about. They were as muted as their bench and with four changes and two debuts, at times they looked like strangers.

In the second minute Ben Watson went clear with only Potter to beat after clever work from Aaron O'Connor but he didn't even hit the target.

Grays' front three continue to work well and have developed an almost psychic ability to find each other.

Cambridge attacked in flourishes. Newcomer from Accrington Stanley Lee McEvilly pulled players out of position and Stephen Reed used the free space on the left well but they were countered by the welcome reappearance of Cammy Mawer who had received a warm welcome back from the crowd.

In the 10th minute a sublime last ditch sliding tackle reminded the crowd exactly what they had missed.

Up front Danny Kedwell continues to be a clever player. In the 12th minute he played a pinpoint ball near to the deadball line to Aaron O'Connor.

His cross came back to Kedwell on the edge of the box but he blasted the volley over the bar. Watson then had another couple of chanced but spurned them.

It was noticeable that Standing was time and time again slotting through balls from midfield. He clearly realised that Cambridge could be unpicked - it was just a case of finding the right combination.

But it was Cambridge who dealt the first blow in the 26th minute. A careless mistake by Santos Gaia gave the U's a throw. Dan Gleeson played a neat one-two on the right, left his marker and crossed over for Scott Rendell to slot the ball home from three yards for his sixteenth goal of the season.

But the key psychological strength is that the Blues never ever let their heads go down even though chances kept being wasted.

A Watson free header in the 28th minute was squandered and another high, wide and not so handsome shot from O'Connor went over the bar.

The crowd, to their credit, stuck with the team, kept encouraging them and are helping to instil the belief that fortress New Rec will be major factor in the shake up for places come May.

At half time, Standing must have decided to cut out the front men. Right after the break, he made a surging run into the U's box leaving the Camb defenders for dead. He chipped the ball to the far post. Power flicked it back across the face of the goal where Standing was there to blast the Blues back into the match.

Cambridge flickered into life. They have been in the play off mix all season and were not prepared to drop out without a fight. The pace was frenetic but they were again being snuffed out by the impenetrable defence and, again by a far more calculating and effective Karl Murray.

Kedwell limped off in the 53rd minute to be replaced by new signing from MK Dons Scott Taylor.

Grays started to look like the away team as as Cambridge picked up the pace. Mawer put in more sublime tackles defying belief that he had been out for nearly a year.

But in the 70th minute Standing put Grays into the lead with the best Grays goal of the season so far when Power's cross was weakly cleared by the U's.

Standing took the ball first time and rifled the ball home from 25 yards out. His celebration as he pointed to himself was simple and accurate. He was indeed the man!

What is more important is that Standing plays with an authority and confidence that is going to be a real boost for the team.

Watson made way for Colin Daniel as the team reverted to a 4-4-2 as Justin Edinburgh tried to guide his team towards the finish. He knew Standing was dying to go forward but he instructed him to sit in front of the back four.

But there were ten minutes left. Sub Courtney Pitt was a menace. Rendell continued to threaten with a shot going close in the 88th minute.

The corners reined down as the skies opened up but nothing could dampen Grays' resolve. David Button saved two and did well as a beautiful Pitt chip just dipped over the bar.

When referee Mr Hooper blew the final whistle fans and players celebrated. Not as "giant killers" but as a team with momentum. This was another excellent performance, superbly crafted and wonderfully executed.

Cambridge boss Jimmy Quinn was in sombre mood after the game.

He said: "We only started playing when we 2-1 behind. I'm disappointed for everyone especially the fans but we will keep our heads up and go into four home games determined to halt this slide."

Grays now stand only six points from the play-offs. Edinburgh will know that it is crucial that the team take it one game at a time.

Grays are still in the mix and their is a momentum to their season that makes the next four months fascinating.

But the triumph of Aldershot was followed by the insipid performance against Ebbsfleet. Tuesday brings York City and you know that Edinburgh will have his players exactly in the zone for that match.

It should be an exciting night. However, the pitch despite the valiant efforts of the trainees and the grounds staff is starting to cut up badly.

Grays Athletic: Button, Gaia, Ashton, Stuart, Mawer, Murray, Standing, Power, O'Connor, Kedwell (Taylor 54), Watson (Daniel 73).

Subs Not Used: Flitney, Jack Obersteller, McCafferty.

Goals: Standing 46, 71.

Cambridge Utd: Potter, Gleeson, Morrison, Albrighton, Hatswell, Reed (Willmott 79), Brown, Wolleaston, Convery (Pitt 72), Rendell, McEvilly.

Subs Not Used: Coulson, Stephen Smith, Hyem.

Goal: Rendell 26.

Att: 1,403

Blue Square Premier, up to and inc Sat, Jan 18 9

P W D L F A +/- Pts 1 Aldershot Town 27 20 1 6 54 32 +22 61 2 Stevenage Borough 26 17 4 5 58 26 +32 55 3 Torquay United 26 17 4 5 59 36 +23 55 4 Burton Albion 26 14 9 3 49 28 +21 51 5 Cambridge United 25 12 9 4 36 24 +12 45 6 Forest Green Rovers 26 13 6 7 51 41 +10 45 7 Histon 27 13 5 9 41 33 +8 44 8 Ebbsfleet United 26 12 6 8 35 28 +7 42 9 Exeter City 24 10 10 4 44 34 +10 40 10 Kidderminster Harriers 27 11 7 9 40 38 +2 40 11 Grays Athletic 26 11 6 9 28 26 +2 39 12 Salisbury City 28 10 9 9 40 39 +1 39 13 York City 27 11 6 10 44 44 0 39 14 Crawley Town (-6) 26 13 5 8 47 32 +15 38 15 Oxford United 27 9 9 9 30 32 -2 36 16 Woking 28 8 10 10 25 29 -4 34 17 Rushden & Diamonds 27 7 10 10 34 33 +1 31 18 Halifax Town 25 7 8 10 31 33 -2 29 19 Weymouth 26 7 5 14 32 43 -11 26 20 Altrincham 27 5 7 15 32 56 -24 22 21 Farsley Celtic 26 5 5 16 28 52 -24 20 22 Northwich Victoria 27 3 4 20 21 55 -34 13 23 Stafford Rangers 26 1 7 18 21 49 -28 10 24 Droylsden 26 2 4 20 30 67 -37 10