Errors prove costly against high-flying Swifts

Back in league action after several weather-related postponements, Grays were looking to get back to winning ways against old rivals Heybridge Swifts. But once again, despite matching their higher-placed opponents for long spells, individual errors again cost the Blues dearly.

And the start mirrored that from the Maldon fixture a couple of weeks ago. After only a couple of minutes, a long ball downfield found Jack Adlington-Pile. The Blues defence waited for an offside flag that never came and the striker’s deflected shot gave Danny Sambridge no chance in the home goal. 1-0 to the visitors.

Soon after, Alejandro Machado took the ball into the Heybridge box and seemed to be squeezed out by two defenders, ending up in a heap on the floor. But referee, Mr Wharton waved play on. It was not to be the last time he did Grays no favours over the 90 minutes.

On 18 minutes, Aron Gordon went on the first of his mazy runs, and despite several attempts to down him, he found Kian Connolly out wide but his cross was blazed over by debutant Bobby Unwin, who should have done better. Moments later, Unwin turned provider for Machado, whose shot was blocked by the massed Heybridge defence.

The visitors pressed to extend their advantage and only great defensive work by Michael Finneran, on Adlington-Pile and Jordan Peart, against our old friend Sam Bantick, prevented further score. Then just before the break, Machado went down in the box again. The appeal seemed less vociferous than the previous one, but finally Mr Wharton judged in Blues favour and awarded the spot kick, which Kian Connelly dispatched past Callum Chafer to bring the scores level at 1-1.

Half time: Grays Athletic 1 v 1 Heybridge Swifts

The start of the second half saw Grays on the attack and dominating possession. But again, the lack of a cutting edge up front saw them fail to turn this into goals on the scoresheet. And as we know at this level, all too often you are left to rue what might have been. Blues forced a series of corners but the visitors’ defence held firm. Too often Grays resorted to efforts from distance, with one from the returning Malaki Toussaint, probably being the best.

Heybridge then began to get back into the game and Sam Park tried his luck from outside the box, but Sambridge tipped the ball over the bar comfortably. But then Blues were the masters of their own downfall. Just after the hour mark, the home defence failed to take any one of at least three chances to clear safely downfield. The ball fell to Bantick inside the box and the result was inevitable, with Heybridge retaking the lead 2-1.

And five minutes later, Sambridge was guilty of a horrendous horlicks of an error in trying to play the ball out of danger. He was dispossessed by Adlington-Pile, who then had the easiest of jobs to put the ball into the unguarded net, to extend the lead further.

And it could have been worse for Grays, Sambridge denied Adlington-Pile his hat trick with a good save, to redeem himself somewhat and visiting skipper, Quba Gordon planted a free header well wide of the post.

So a better performance from Blues against smart opposition. There were though, again, too many yellow cards for dissent, questioning dubious decisions from the officials, to go with the mistakes.

Final score: Grays Athletic 1 v 3 Heybridge Swifts

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Matyar, Peart (Gibson, 77), Toussaint, Finneran, Humphrey, Gordon, Crook (Clark, 68), Connolly, Machado (Cosgrave, 78), Unwin

Subs not used: Carlos, Stimson