Tilbury 0, Grays Athletic 5

AFTER last season's 3-1 defeat, Grays Athletic regained the  Veness Memorial Trophy in Tuesday's clash at Chadfields' EMR Stadium.

A blistering second half performance by Grays Athletic secured the pre-season silverware for the Blues against a Tilbury side who competed well for an hour but then fell away under an avalanche of Grays goals.

The first half between sides who both play at the EMR was a relatively tight affair. The much-travelled former Blue, Sam Bantick had the game's first chance  as Jamie Reynolds clipped a beautiful pass toward the back stick where Bantick was waiting but his deflected strike flew over the crossbar. 

After that things were relativele tight though Grays began to extert increasing control but opting for the long ball often thwarted their hopes of breaking the deadlock. 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.

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

Blues should have taken the lead in just the second minute of the half 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 Macaulay 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.

Grays are next in action on Tuesday, 30 July when they play host to Potters Bar Town at Chadfields. Tilbury are also without a wseekend game and go to Canvey Island on Tuesday.