Grays 16/02/08

W 2-0

Attendance: 1089

by Kirstie Bowden

Our trip to Grays was a day of déjà vu. Arriving at Fleet services we were joined by an AFC Bournemouth supporters bus containing the same regular supporters that we had come across on our trip to Ebbsfleet the previous week. Indeed, we very nearly came across Ebbsfleet once more as a missed turning set us on course for Stonebridge Road. The drivers, ignoring the sat nav system that had so ably assisted them so far, successfully forged out a route back to the Dartford tunnel which coincidently took us past the team hotel which was the Hilton no less! Sat in traffic outside the Grays branch of Morrisons the bus stopped alongside the unfortunately named 'Argyll Road'. As a City supporter I've booed a lot of things in my time, but never before have I booed a road sign!

Waiting outside the ground for the team bus we were joined by Neil Saunders who was also awaiting the team bus so he could sneak in for free. After the team bus had finished running over a traffic cone in spectacular style the team disembarked and disappeared inside. After having my bag checked for missiles and successfully negotiating free entry for Grecian the Lion I was reunited with "The Rec', site of many a miserable City performance. Yet more déjà vu pitchside as we were reunited with a steward who we had spent some time talking to the previous week at Ebbsfleet!

The pre-match entertainment was provided by a Grays player undertaking some sort of fitness test (or punishment - I couldn't decide) running up and down the pitch dragging two parachutes behind him. The teams ran out onto the pitch as the Grays Stadium announcer screeched out "MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE BOYS". City were unrecognisable in their dodgy white kit. Quite why they needed to their wear white when Grays wear blue was unclear, but then again, so is the reason for the need of the third kit in the first place!

Early on in the match one of the Grays ball boys made the error of taking his time to retrieve the ball. He didn't take too kindly to being told to hurry up by the away supporters, responding with a gesture which ensured that every time he went to retrieve the ball he was met with cries of 'hurry up'.

City went in at half-time 2 nil up through a superb goal by Wayne Carlisle and a goal widely deemed an own goal, but given to Stansfield. Although this should have given us reason for optimism, after our midweek surrendering of a 2-0 half-time lead against Woking it was widely felt that two goals wouldn't be enough. Thankfully and somewhat surprisingly given the effect The Rec normally has on City, the second half passed without serious threat. Scenes of 20jubilation marked the final whistle as not only had City got the 3 points, but the Grays curse had finally been broken!

Travelling home I was somewhat surprised to look out the window and see a sign for Cardiff. Assuming the sat nav had gone wrong again I was relieved to be informed that we had taken the 'straighter' M4 route home. We stopped at Reading services which provided the setting for the final déjà vu moment of the day as we were joined by Team Bath. As Sean Canham walked past the large group of City supporters I was sat with we gave him a round of applause. Although he tried to ignore us at first, sensing that we would only stop clapping when he looked at us, he turned round to acknowledge us, much to the enjoyment of his team-mates!

Dedicated to the memory of Ernie Cooksey. The Grays Athletic player lost his bravely fought battle with cancer on the 3rd July 2008. This match was the last competitive game of football that he played. He was just 28.