Tilbury 0, Grays Athletic 5

GRAYS regained the Stan Veness Trophy on Tuesday (23 July) with a blistering second half performance against a Tilbury side who competed well for an hour but then fell away under an avalanche of goals.

Tilbury, who held the Stan Veness memorial Trophy following a 3-1 win last season, had the game's first real opportunity when as Jamie Reynolds clipped a beautiful pass toward the back stick where Sam Bantick was waiting but his deflected strike flew over the crossbar.

Grays began to exert control but a propensity for long balls when there were other options limited their scoring opportunities.  Late in the half, Blues forced a series of corners. An Alejandro Machado long shot was deflected behind, as was an Elliott Sartorius free kick. But again the chances came to nothing and the sides went in goalless at the break.

Whatever Grays manager, Darren Manning, said in the changing room at half time had a transformative impact on the game. From the whistle, the whole team were quicker and sharper, keeping the ball better and passing crisply.

Blues should have taken the lead in just the second minute when Kenedi Dariri and Elliott Sartorius worked the ball to Alex Moss who headed wide. Matas Skarna then got out his slide-rule with an inch-perfect pass for Sartorius to run onto. But he saw his shot from a narrow angle come back off the far post.

Tilbury were still dangerous on the break - and it took a fine last ditch clearance from Moss to deny Bantick.

But by now, the Blues pressure was relentless and it was only a matter of time. Just after the hour, Malaki Toussaint found Machado outside the box. He worked a yard of space and picked out the corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

That goal opened the floodgates. The second goal a few minutes later started with a Danny Sambridge roll out. Blues worked the ball down the field to Bobby Unwin, He rode the challenges and threaded the ball through to Luke Hirst, whose shot went in off the post for 2-0.

The third, seven minutes from time was a Machado solo effort. Picking up the ball in midfield, charging forward and despite pressure from several Tilbury defenders he let fly an unstoppable shot past Harry Girling.

By now, the Dockers were a beaten side but Grays weren't finished. Ex Blue Macauley Joynes failed to find Girling with his back pass and Hirst nicked the ball and walked it into the empty net for 4-0. And just before the final whistle, Hirst completed his hat-trick and Blues' fifth, when he got onto the end of Albert Perry's through ball and Girling's outstretched leg couldn't prevent another goal.

Both Grays and Tilbury are without a match this weekend but return to action on Tuesday, 30 July. Tilbury go to Canvey Island, while Grays play host to Potters Bar Town at Chadfields.