Stimson double earns Blues a deserved point

After the disappointments of previous weeks, Mark Stimson’s men finally found their spirit and character to earn a well-deserved point against old rivals Bury Town. He introduced new signing, Ayo Shogbeni, into a re-shaped back three. But once again, it was defensive failings that got the Blues into the mess that on this occasion they dug themselves out of.

The early exchanges were fairly evenly contested. Bury immediately looked well organised but Grays created good chances in the first ten minutes for Sully Bakalandwa and Sam Bantick both of which were spurned. But Blues then hit the suicide button by allowing seasoned Bury striker Cemal Ramadan way too much time and space on the edge of the box. The inevitable outcome was a 1-0 lead for the visitors.

Bantick, David Knight and Rob Clark all then had presentable chances in a twenty minute spell before the break but none of them troubled Bury keeper, Danny Cullum. In between, the visitors had the lion’s share of possession and when they did attack, Ramadan and Ethan Mayhew both forced Danny Sambridge into a save.

Half time: Grays Ath 0 v 1 Bury Town

The second half was barely a minute old when Bury extended their lead. A cross by Luke Brown wasn’t dealt with by the Grays defence and Luke Brown was on hand to net from close range, making it 2-0.

To their credit, Grays came back fighting. Bakalandwa quickly launched the counter-attack and only a desperate series of blocks by the Bury defence preserved their lead. Bantick then had two good chances - one saved by Cullum, from which the rebound fell kindly for the visitors - and then a fine run and shot that hit the outside of the post. Aron Gordon was coming more into the game, with the ball seemingly stuck to his boot by the proverbial chewing gum.

And in this mood, perhaps not seen before this season, Blues were not to be denied. On the hour, another Grays attack seemed to be fizzling out when the ball fell to Charlie Stimson on the edge of the box. He did a great bit of keepy-uppy and then volleyed his shot over the keeper into the net, to halve the deficit.

Blues were now up for the challenge and starting to show some real character. With ten minutes left on the clock, another Gordon mazy run down the right found Bantick, whose shot was well turned round the post by Cullum. Rob Clark drilled the corner into the six yard box and Charlie Stimson was on hand again to head home the equaliser.

The final few minutes saw further chances for both sides. A David Knight free kick brought a fine save from Cullem, At the other end, Luke Brown and Ramadan combined well in the area and only a Callum Leahy clearance off the line prevented Bury retaking the lead. Then deep into added time, a Troy Osei-Bobie header could have nicked it for Grays.

But a draw was a fair result, although Grays will take much from the way they fought back from two down to earn a point.

Full time: Grays Athletic 2 v 2 Bury Town

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Bakalandwa, R.Clark, Shogbeni, L.Clark, Leahy, Gordon, Stimson (Damrell, 82), Knight, Bantick, Millar (Osei-Bobie, 63)

Subs not used: Thackway, Adeniji