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Watched by a crowd of some 150 spectators, Blue Square Premier
(Conference) league side Grays Athletic, who fielded most of their first
team, proved too strong for Edgware this afternoon, winning convincingly
by four goals to nil.
This was always going to be a tough test for the boys in green and
though the home side could not be faltered for sheer effort, it was the
class of finishing from the side three leagues above that proved the
major difference.
Edgware defended well and tried to create openings in the first 30
minutes, but it was Grays new signing from Woking, Craig McAllister, who
found the net first 31 minutes in, a well taken effort from inside the
box.
Just
3 minutes later he scored his second, Vince Rispoli was beaten to the
ball when trying to see it out of play and the cross into the centre
found McAllister free to head the ball past Darren Bonfield in the home
goal.
Joint Managers Steve Newing & Del Deanus made several changes after the
break as they switched from a 4-3-3 formation to their more customary
3-5-2.
The changes did little to help Edgware find the back of the Grays net,
the closest the 'Wares' came to scoring was efforts from Greg Ngoyi and
Ben Cain.
However, it was at the other end that their was more goal action as Luke
Woodward, with a thunderous strike made it 3-0 on 77 minutes beating Rob
Blackburne, who was custodian of the Edgware goal in the second half.
Then 3 minutes later Aaron O' Connor added a fourth and final goal for
Grays with only 10 minutes left.
Despite the result the match proved a useful experience for Edgware
against a club who's players are full time professionals. After the game
Joint Manager Steve Newing said “ It was a good workout for the boys and
proved our fitness level stacks up to a professional conference side. In
terms of comparison the match this afternoon was like Barnet playing
Manchester United and I am sure it was enjoyed by players as well as
spectators.”
EDGWARE: Bonfield (R Blackburne), Hart, Rispoli, Lewis, Ferneé, (Ingham),Moore,
Marks (Christie), Maharajan (Hayden), S Blackburne (Kane), Wallace
(Cain), Ngoyi (Tomkins)
With still 5 pre-season games to play Edgware have plenty of time to try
out the team. With Steve Brady, Richard Morton and ‘skipper’ Rory Smith
yet to past fitness tests things are looking good for our Ryman Division
One campaign this season. The Wares are next in action on Tuesday night
when they travel to Tring Athletic, followed by a home match with
Windsor & Eaton on Saturday 4th August.
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