Knight rides to the Rescue

Grays travelled to high flying Walthamstow on Saturday, looking
to improve their own lowly league position and will probably
be reasonably satisfied to end up with an away point.
The days leading up to the game has seen quite a bit of rain
and credit to the Wadham Lodge staff as the pitch had held
up well and the scene was set.
The game kicked off under skies that matched Grays away kit
and the opening exchanges were a tight, evenly contested affair
with both sides trying to play a neat passing game on the floor
but without causing either defence too many problems. In fact,
the first half created so few chances for either side that during
the traditional change-of-ends at half time, your reporter was
wished good luck writing this match report on numerous
occasions!
During the break, the rains returned and the second half was a
more open affair with both sides creating chances.
The first of these fell to Anthony Mendy of the home side, he
found himself at the back post but his shot was blocked to keep
the game goalless.
On the hour the deadlock was broken by Walthamstow through
Damaray Anyadike. After holding off a challenge, he found himself
in space on the corner of the area and curled a shot into the top
corner that gave Grays keeper Finley Thackway no chance. It
really was the proverbial goal that deserves to win a game but
that would be unfair on this Grays team who were putting in
a great shift to compete with one of the divisions top teams.
Manager Mark Stimson reacted to the goal by bringing on Aron
Gordon and this gave Grays pace and trickery down both flanks
as Ruben Soares was enjoying his second debut on the right.
Cheered on by their loud travelling support Grays were now in
the ascendency. Soares crosses provided a chance for Charlie
Stimson that went over the bar, Rob Clark and Troy Osei-Bobie
had half chances and then Aron Gordon burst into the box only to
be denied by an outstretched leg from home keeper Matthew
Nolan.
At the opposite end, Walthamstow had the ball in the net
but the flag was up for offside and Grays kept up their search for
an equaliser. With the clock on 88 minutes it duly arrived from
striker David Knight. A free kick on the edge of the box was drilled
low and hard to the right of Nolan in goal and the wet ball slipped
from his grasp into the bottom corner to send the players and fans
into delirious celebration.
After a few minutes of stoppage time, referee Lawrence Torz-Brown
bought an end to proceedings and credit to him and both sets of
players that the game only produced one yellow card.
So a decent point on the road that Grays will look to build on as
they face perhaps an even larger task against Felixstowe next
Saturday back home at Tilbury.