The blues go into the match on the back of a convincing 2-0 win over Bury Town in the Ryman Premier league. Jamie Guy and Freddie Ladapo slotted home for the blues against a relegation threatened Bury. That win on Wednesday lifted the blues to 7th place in the league with only 3 points needed for a play off place. A great atmosphere was created at the match by the club supporters, and you hope that these same supporters have their singing voices warmed up for the match against Hastings, they really do seem to lift the team.

Grays secured their FA cup second qualifier tie with Hastings having beaten Harlow Town 2-4 in the previous round replay having drawn 2-2 at Mill Field the previous week.

Ryman league Division one south side Hastings United come into the match on the back of a 0-3 defeat against Tooting & Mitcham FC. They currently sit in 19th position after eleven games played winning 5 drawing 3 and losing 3. They beat Whyteleafe away 2-1 in the previous round of the FA Cup to secure their meeting with the blues, Sam Adams and Ade Orlarunda netted for the seasiders.

Hastings manager Terry White tendered his resignation from his role as first-team manager following Monday's 3-0 defeat against Tooting & Mitcham United.
United's second home defeat in the space of little more than forty-eight hours left them languishing in sixteenth place in the table, already fifteen points behind unbeaten leaders Burgess Hill Town, and with pre-season title aspirations looking sadly forlorn.

After succeeding John Maggs in the managerial hot-seat in January 2014, White led the U's to a fifth place finish, before an extra-time defeat at Folkestone Invicta ended their season in the play-off semi-finals.

An experienced squad of players was then assembled over the summer, a group widely expected to mount a serious promotion challenge from the outset, but even though an inconsistent start was followed by a six-match unbeaten run, Monday night's loss and abject performance signalled the end of White's tenure.

Nigel Kane, who managed United to play-off glory back in the 2006/07 campaign, and was recently installed as White's assistant, will take caretaker charge of team affairs for Saturday's FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie away to Grays Athletic while the club assesses its options going forward.

Jody Brown has no new injury concerns and new signings Joseph Zerafa and Ben Sampayo could feature against Hastings.

The club once again calls on our fantastic supporters to get behind the team today and be loud and proud.

The wiiner of todays match will recieve £4,500 from the FA

FA CUP SECOND ROUND QUALYFIER

Grays Athletic v Hastings United
Mill field
Aveley
KO 1500