Waltham Forest 1-2 Grays Athletic

Defeat has unfortunately become a familiar feeling for Forest fans during the past few years, but that feeling was almost always accompanied by despair, depression and despondency.

This evening, the Forest faithful experienced that same losing feeling, but this time it was accompanied by hope, confidence and anticipation. For all of Grays’ rumoured spending and large following, Forest were their equals for most of the match, and even in defeat, Forest could hold their heads high that they played with a passion, heart and commitment, something missing in recent years.

Wale Ojelabi only made one change to the side that beat Soham Town Rangers four days ago, with Joel Palmer pushing Richard Shittu down to the bench.

As the game opened, Forest started as they left off against Soham, attacking with pace and venom, and it was not before long that Josh Bonnett was put through one-on-one. When Bonnett attempted to lift the bouncing ball over the advancing ‘keeper, he was flattened by Aksoy in the Gray goal. Despite this clear foul, the referee’s whistle remained absent from his mouth.

This fired Grays into action, and they proceeded to go close to scoring twice in the space of five minutes. The first chance fell to the unmarked Joao Carlos whose back post header went just wide, when he really ought to have done better. Grant Cooper then went close, heading wide from a deep free-kick.

Forest did not lie down, and Dagher did well on the left wing, skinning the ageing Grays full-back Craig Pope, before having his powerful shot well blocked.

Jared Small, alongside Joe Sweeney were Grays’ most lively players, and Small was guilty of missing several changes on his own. The first came with around 10 minutes to go in the first half. After muscling his way through to a goal-scoring position, he could only fire straight at Omand, who did well to make himself big.

In an end-to-end half, a long ball out of the back allowed Joel Palmer to murder the slow Grays back four for pace, but his shot from a tight angle was only narrowly tipped away from goal by Aksoy.

On the stroke of half time Grays went closer still, when a back-post header cannoned off the top of the bar. Fortunately, the rebound fell at the Forest defence’s feet, and they were able to clear.

Grays took the upper hand right from the start of the second half, but Forest continued to test them on the break. Hammond had two good chances to put Forest ahead, but the back of the net continued to elude him.

Hammond’s first effort was a long-range header which was brilliantly headed off the line. However, he will be far more disappointed that he did not put his second chance away. A long ball out of defence from Palmer set Hammond through, and Aksoy’s slip gave Hammond a clear shot at goal. However, the striker stumbled and could only poke the ball wide.

As is so often the case in football, when one team misses a golden chance, the other will go and score – and that’s exactly what happened next. Joe Sweeney expertly brought down a bouncing ball, turned and squeezed a shot into the far right corner of the Forest goal, despite being marked by two defenders.

The next 20 minutes was one-way traffic. Grays continued to press and press, and Small was again guilty of missing a handful of chances, including heading at the keeper when one-on one, and volleying wide from only six yards out.

Midfielder Joao Carlos hit the woodwork for the second time in the match when his fizzing shot hit the outside of the near post.

Forest gained a free-kick only a few metres into the Grays half, and when it was delivered, Joel Palmer was pushed in the box, and the referee had no option but to award a penalty. It was a soft penalty to give away, but a penalty none the less. Despite a long pause, Bonnett stepped up and silenced the Grays crowd with his second successful spot-kick in as many games.

With only six minutes to go, Grays scored what proved to be the winning goal. A deep, in-swinging corner was met at the back post by Kenny Beaney, whose header crept into the back of the net despite the best effort of two Forest defenders on the line.

Forest pressed in search of a second equalizer, but were unable to find that cutting edge.

Next up for the Stags is Needham Market, on Saturday. They will no doubt go into the match with renewed confidence and hope of achieving at least a point.

Forest: Omand, Sackey, Nicholas, Kendall, Green, Douglas, Dagher (Shittu), Dauti, Palmer, Hammond (Healey), Bonnett. Unused Subs: Imbert, Melton, Campbell.

Photos from the match taken by club photographer Rod Lewis.

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