Flawed finishing marks defeat (23.04.05)

IT WAS all about the finish at York Road on Saturday, unfortunately for the Magpies theirs was flawed while Grays’ was distinctly french polished.
The hosts, looking for a win to secure Conference South survival, produced a high-energy display which created five glorious scoring chances, including a penalty.
However, these were spurned and two goals in the final minutes against a team down to 10 men, saw the runaway champions clinch all three points.
The hosts more than matched their big-spending full-time visitors (who had twice as many points from the same number of games) in all areas of the park, except when it came to the finishing touch.
Strikers Craig O’Connor and Lawrence Yaku looked nervous and self-conscious in front of goal, while Grays were clinical with their few chances; two of their goals coming from super individual efforts from distance.
The clash had promised much for the hosts who, on the back of three straight wins and in front of a season’s best crowd of 607, played a direct, high-paced style which unnerved the Grays defence and forced them into unaccustomed errors.
Yet Grays took the lead on 16 minutes when Dean Brennan went up for a challenge with Tom McGowen, and as the ball ran loose speculatively unleashed a volley from 25 yards which left keeper Adam Federici clutching thin air.
Strangley, this goal seemed to spur the hosts on and finally from one of their fast breaks O’Connor played a one-two with Yaku to leave himself with just the keeper to beat. Grays’ Ashley Bayes produced a half-stop from the intial O’Connor shot, and then watched as the Magpies No.9 volleyed the loose ball wide.
Then, with three minutes of the half remaining, O’Connor had a chance to redeem the situation when the Magpies were awarded a penalty following a trip on Jamie Cook.
He struck the spot kick fiercely and straight down the middle, but Bayes, while diving the wrong way, managed to stick a boot in the air and deflect the strike over the bar.
Still Magpies were not disheartened and in the last knockings of the half, a Cook free-kick ricocheted to Bryan Smith eight yards out, but his slightly scuffed effort did not carry the power to beat Bayes.
The second half saw Grays enjoy a double effort following a Jack Stirling free-kick which was kept out by Federici, the follow-up being completely missed by Tony Battersby.
But the Magpies were soon into their stride again, and what their style lacked in finesse, it made up for in purpose and focus.
This was characterised when substitute Dean Clark played a chip over the defence for O’Connor to chase, but his lifted effort over the keeper curled wide of the upright.
Still the Magpies huffed and puffed, creating their fifth good opportunity when a route one thump down the pitch from Federici was not dealt with by the back-pedalling Grays backline, and it fell into the path of the normally predatory Yaku.
But as if to underscore the Magpies’ Achiles heel on the day, he blasted high, wide and not so handsome.
It was the last action for him as he was replaced by the Magpies’ last substitution Andre Fashanu, who lasted just two minutes before being stretchered off following an innocuous challenge.
One goal down and one player down, the Magpies finally found the pace, effort and numerical disadvantage catching up with them.
On 85 minutes, Grays caught the hosts on the break and Joe Bruce completed a fine move with a neat volley.
On 90 minutes, Stirling produced a left-foot curler from 25 yards which was stunning in its execution and in its effect on the Magpies fans.

CARELESS DRIVER: Craig O’Connor had this penalty attempt saved. Ref:88602/34