Grays inflicted a first home league defeat against promotion hopefuls Met Police at Imber Court on Saturday to reverse a similar scoreline at Mill Field earlier in the week.The Blues were full value for the win with a solid all round performance which has come to epitomise the new found confidence within the squad.

Mark Bentley named himself in the starting eleven with Nathan Ferguson dropping to the bench .

The visitors playing with the wind at their backs were quickly into their stride forcing a corner in the first minute which was eventually cleared by the Met rearguard.The first clear cut opportunity came in the 8th minute when Jaoa Carlos latched on to a neat through ball from Joel Nouble but a combination of hesitation and a defenders attention forced him wide and the chance was lost.

The Blues were taking the game to the home side in the early stages using the wind to their advantage but in the home sides first real attack Matt Pattison found himself unmarked on the edge of the box his fierce shot was well saved by the in form Connor Gough at the expense of a corner which was dealt with easily by the visitors defence.

The Met slowly managed to get a toehold in the game as Grays were guilty of standing off allowing their opponents time to dictate proceeding in midfield ,the homesters forced a number of corners without creating any real openings although Jay Leader was prominent for the Blues winning the aerial battle with the Met front line.

As on Wednesday night the Blues were moving the ball out wide but were delaying the crosses allowing the Met to regroup and snuff out any chances.The next real opportunity for the visitors came in the 23rd minute following a foul on Jey Siva his resultant kick was headed down by Leader and dropped invitingly to GB Dumaka who failed to make good contact on the ball and his efforts trickled past the post.

At the other end a Met break found Turner totally unmarked he unleashed a drive which produced another fine save from Gough.

Grays finally got their noses in front in the 28th minute when Siva's cross held up in the swirling wind deceiving Stuart Searle in the home goal clipping the inside of the post and hitting the keeper on the back and dropping into the net, definitely not an own goal as the announcer erroneously reported.

The home side stung by this reverse immediately launched a counter attack from the kick off and were awarded a soft free kick which sailed harmlessly wide,Lovett then swung over a dangerous cross with the resultant header going wide.

Jordan Wilson's driven cross was scrambled clear and then a 35 yard pass from Bentley eluded the home defence allowing Carlos a clear run on goal and his rasping drive was only parried by Searle with Dumaka unable to capitalise on the rebound.

HT 0-1

The home side made a change at half time bringing on Mann for Ahamed,as they began the second half in lively fashion Hudson-Odoi who had been tormentor in chief on Wednesday played in a searching cross forcing Gough to punch clear only to be played back but this time the keeper claimed well under pressure

Jordan Wilson then intercepted the ball on the halfway line and made a damaging run at the home defence he was only denied by a last minute tackle,moments later Nouble picked up the ball in the Met half and went on a run but failed to get in a shot and was dispossessed

The home side were increasing the pressure on the visitors without at that stage creating any real clear cut chances resorting to high balls into the box which were dealt with by the Blues rearguard,Gough again did well to punch clear from another deep cross ,Leader and Parry were also winning everything in the air.

Carlos was causing the Met problems out wide on one of his typical forward forays he fed Nouble who unleashed a drive which unfortunately sailed over.Wilson then shot weakly when well placed.

Both sides made changes Nouble was replaced by Ferguson to add more pace as the home side began to get on top forcing a succession of corners, but with a combination of solid defending and a slice of fortune the visitors goal remained intact as they continued to frustrate the Met. Morrison-Derbyshire then replaced Wilson who had worked tirelessly in midfield.

Hudson-Odoi who had been such a danger in the midweek encounter was largely ineffective thanks to the close attention of Aaron Best who had denied him the space to work in and he was eventually substituted .

The Met had one last throw of the dice with a free kick on the edge of the Blues box but the resultant kick was off target,much the same as other efforts as the visitors forced the home side to shoot from distance.

Carlos was replaced by Correy Davidson in the dying minutes and he made an immediate impact with a 40 yard run and shot which was deflected looping just over the bar ,shortly after the Mr Gillette brought proceedings to an end of what had been a battling performance against a very good Met Police side.

The Blues will take great comfort from this performance especially coming so soon after the midweek defeat they obviously learnt from that game as the Met were not allowed to impose their high tempo passing game,indeed one could say the visitors looked the more menacing going forward they just need now to believe in themselves and their ability to grind out results like today.

Wednesday sees Hampton and Richmond Borough at Mill Field and a repeat of the away win in August will increase the feel good factor within the camp.

Grays Athletic: Gough Best-Riley Siva Leader Parry Wilson Nouble Beaney Dumaka Bentley Carlos
Subs:Ferguson Morrison-Derbyshire Marfo Davidson Johnson

Att:108