Debutant rescues late point for Blues

Grays Athletic came into their home fixture against Wroxham looking to build on their battling win against Witham Town earlier in the week. But their Norfolk opponents put up a strong show and Blues failed to get out of low gear. That said, it was the Yachtsmen’s keeper, Ollie Sutton, who gave a man of the match performance with three fine saves in the first half.

As so often before this season, the Grays defence gave up an early goal. This time it took until the 8th minute. Wroxham moved the ball smartly down the left and the cross found Josh Harvey sliding into the six yard box and beating the Blues back line to the ball, for a 1-0 lead.

Blues looked to fight straight back. Billy Crook ran the ball into the penalty area and let fly a shot that took a deflection, requiring Sutton to pull off his first fine save of the afternoon. And Codey Cosgrave then nearly found Kien Connolly with a through ball that split the defence, but Sutton was quick enough off his line to clear the danger.

Wroxham generally looked comfortable on the ball, with Blues conceding possession too readily, but the visitors couldn’t find a way through the Grays defence which was growing in confidence. Sutton then made two further great stops, both from Cosgrave, who must have ended the half wondering how he hadn’t scored. His first effort just after the half hour, from close range, caused Sutton initially to flap at the ball and then scoop it away. Was the whole of the ball over the line? The officials said no. Then immediately before the break, Bobby Unwin ball fell to Cosgrave, whose overhead kick was acrobatically turned away again by the visitors keeper.

So yes, the home side had much the better chances but overall the visitors were well worth their half time lead.

Half time: Grays Ath 0 v 1 Wroxham

The start to the second half was a scrappy affair, which certainly suited Wroxham more. And it took until after the hour mark for the game to come to life again. The Yachtsmen’s full back, Harry Barker, made progress into the Blues 18-yard area chased by Bobby Unwin, who brought him down. Referee Mr Wilmore had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Leading marksman, Ryan Hawkins stepped up but keeper, and captain for the day, Danny Sambridge flung himself high to his right, pulling off a fantastic save to keep his side in the game.

A mark of the Grays improvement in recent weeks is strength that manager Darren Manning now has available on the bench, And with just over twenty minutes remaining he was able to throw new signings Phil Roberts and Elliot Sartorius into the fray, adding new impetus to the Blues attack.

On 80 minutes, Andy George’s through ball found Roberts but he could only shoot straight at the keeper. At the other end, sub Michael Campbell shot across goal, but again Sambridge was equal to the task.

Then with the clock ticking into injury time, Giani Ashley burst down the right wing and found Sartorius. He cut inside and his shot through a crowded penalty area, took a deflection, wrongfooting Sutton and found the net for the equaliser.

In his comments after the game, manager Darren Manning was disappointed with the overall performance but delighted with the team’s resolve to stick to the task and find the equaliser. Most Blues fans would agree with his summation that only a few weeks ago a game like this would have been lost.

Grays now move onto Friday night and a visit to north-east London to face New Salamis, their FA Cup conquerors earlier in the season.

Final score: Grays Athletic 1 v 1 Wroxham

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Ashley, Gulliver, Toussaint, George, Humphrey, Unwin (Roberts, 67), Crook (Machado 77), Connolly, Cosgrave, Gordon (Sartorius, 67)

Subs not used: Finneran, Matyar