At last, a league win on the board

Finally, finally finally, a league win on the board, at the lucky 13th time of asking. And not just a win, a clean sheet as well ! Stowmarket have, of course, been struggling as much as the Blues this season, but that made the fixture all the more nerve-wracking.

Despite having had only a few days to familiarise himself with the squad, new manager, Darren Manning, can clearly be seen to be making a difference to the performance on the pitch. The three new players on show each added something to the mix and maybe, just maybe, a corner has been turned.

Grays started the game with intent, against an opposition that the Blues had never managed a goal against in five previous meetings. The Stowmarket defence were understandably nervy and too often rushed to clear the ball, returning possession to the Grays midfield - with Jamie Dicks and experienced debutant, Billy Crook, looking assured.

The game was being broken up by too many niggly fouls, which seemed to suit the home side and Bart Lorrimer tried his luck from distance with an audacious lob that just cleared the crossbar.

Grays were looking to get in behind the Stowmarket back line, especially out wide, where Reuben Soares-Junior and Aron Gordon were seeing plenty of the ball. Too often though, great approach play, with full-backs Milner and Peart doubling up on both sides, was let down by some poor balls into the box. Charlie Stimson was probably having his best game in a Blue shirt, benefiting from some quality ball into him from the midfield duo.

Troy Osei-Bobie, playing in the No10 role, got forward on the 20 minute mark, but fired over. Shortly after, he was on the end of a fine Grays team move but his shot was blocked by some last-ditch home defending. And then Crook tapped a free kick to Gordon, whose effort was well saved by home keeper, James Askew. The deadlock was finally broken six minutes before the break when Soares-Junior fed the ball into the box, Osei-Bobie helped it on and Stimson was on hand close in to apply the final touch, for a 1-0 lead.

And there was still time for Jack Humphrey to feed Aron Gordon who attacked the penalty area and his shot hit the outside of the post.

Half time: Stowmarket Town 0 v 1 Grays Athletic

The second half was more of the same, with Grays dominating much of the possession and Stowmarket looking to break from deep. Soares-Junior was keeping the ball boys busy with a number of shots that went high or wide - but even this level of intent is something not seen by Blues fans in recent weeks.

Seth O’Neil for Stowmarket and Dicks for Grays both tried their luck from distance - the former’s effort smothered by Danny Sambridge and the latter firing wide. The home side then nearly equalised in bizarre circumstances when Scott Sloots chased down a Sambridge clearance and the rebound went just past the far post. Perhaps, Grays’ luck really has turned.

With fifteen minutes on the clock, Stimson had another great close-range chance from an Osei-Bobie knock down, but again Askew made a smart save. Stowmarket were doing what they could to find a way through the Grays defence, but Michael Finneran was equal to every task. As Blues nerves were getting increasingly frayed, with five minutes to go, Milner found Soares-Junior again and Askew didn’t deal with the cross. The third debutant, Jules Gibson, was on hand to fire home for a 2-0 lead. The sense of relief was palpable.

And in the final minutes it could have been more. Finneran had a header tipped round the post and Soares-Junior shot just wide. At the final whistle, the shouts of joy could probably be heard by those Blues fans still back in Essex.

Despite their league position, Stowmarket showed some real fight. They are a club with great people involved and we wish them well for the rest of the season.

But the Darren Manning effect is evidently starting to have an impact on the Blues, with two wins in his first week in charge. Neither were against the strongest of opposition but both were tricky games that could just as easily have been lost. Another challenge comes quickly with Witham at home on Friday night.

Final score: Stowmarket Town 0 v 2 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Milner, Peart, Dicks, Finneran, Humphrey, Gordon (Gibson, 46), Crook, Stimson, Osei-Bobie, Soares-Junior

Subs not used: Jones, Carlos, Knight