A title push was very much on the cards by late March 2010. Or, at least, back on track; a bit of a wobble in February saw us lose twice (at Tamworth and Rushden). With four league wins and a place in the FA Trophy Final now under our belt, 23 March saw us make a midweek trip to Essex. The Blues were cast adrift at the foot of the table and, when all’s said and done, our archives show Grays Athletic 1-2 Stevenage Borough; a fifth straight league win for us.
But it ain’t as straightforward as that. It never bloody is.
Grays Athletic 1-2 Stevenage Borough: Match Details
Just because the home side were heading for the Blue Square Premier exit door, it didn’t mean we were getting a free ride. In fact, we came up against a side with a real desire to upset the applecart. And that became pretty clear when Jamie Guy put them into a shock lead just before the break. It prompted GW (or at least proved he’d made the right call) to make a double switch at the break; Cole and Sills on for Byrom and Beardo.
Boro’ were now chasing the game; an unfamiliar place for much of that season. It took 20 minutes of huffing and puffing until Bozzie headed us level from Andy Drury‘s corner. The pressure started to mount on the home side. But time was starting to run out for us; Yemi Odubade off and Charlie Griffin on for the final 15 minutes. And we can only describe it as an inspired call by the gaffer.
With four minutes left on the clock, Griffin rose highest to meet a Chris Day free-kick; Boro’ ahead and not before time. The highlights here credit it as an own goal. But the Beeb and, more importantly, we give it to Griff. As GW himself told 3CR after the game: “How you get there’s not important at this time of the season, it’s getting there that’s important”. We can only agree with that statement after this close shave.
Boro’ went on to win eight out of the last nine league outings after that; dropping just three points in a home defeat to Luton. But what if we’d been knocked out of our stride at Grays?
Oh, it almost doesn’t bear thinking about…
Grays Athletic 1-2 Stevenage Borough: Match Timeline
- 1-0 – Guy (43)
- 1-1 – Bostwick (65)
- 1-2 – Griffin (86)
