Match Preview

After a weekend off, Grays Ath return to league action on Saturday with a home fixture, at Tilbury, against Lowestoft FC.

At this early stage of the season, the Trawler Boys have laid down an excellent marker, with three wins and a draw in their first four games Wins against Maldon & Tiptree, Gorleston and Stowmarket, combined with a draw away to Basildon see Lowestoft currently top of the early season table. But the visitors will be mindful of last season, when they went on a long unbeaten run from day one, only to stutter later on, although securing a play-off berth alongside the Blues. Goalscoring has not been a problem this season for Lowestoft, with Sayer, Reed, Hipperson and Johnson all hitting the net regularly.

The two clubs first met in October 1991 in an FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round tie at Crown Meadow, which Grays Ath won 2-1 - a game remembered by your correspondent for two notable events: one Richard winning four cans of lager in the raffle and rather more poignantly, my dad, a lifelong Blue, passing away just two days later - strange how life and football intertwine.

This is our fourth season sharing a division. In 2013/14 we played out two draws, whilst in 2016/17 we traded away wins. Last season, back together in Isthmian 1N, both sides won their respective home fixtures, 3-1 in Suffolk, 2-1 in Essex. So, statistically there is nothing to separate the two teams.

But history counts for little on the field of play. Grays go in search of their first league win of the season, but buoyed by their comeback against Bury last time out and the arrival of several new exciting signings since the last fixture. An interesting game beckons.

Come on you Blues !