Defensive errors costly again

On a pitch that was only passed as playable by the referee a short time before kick-off, Grays Ath and Basildon produced a poor game that won’t live long in the memory of those who were there. Neither goalkeeper was particularly overworked and Grays will again wonder how they left with nothing to show for their efforts. But that is so often the way of things when you’re down and struggling.

For once, Blues came out of the traps much the quicker of the two teams, forcing a corner in just the second minute. As the ball came in, skipper Michael Finneran took a nasty blow on the head which forced him from the game soon after, and the ball went out for another corner. Billy Crook swung the cross in and centre half, Jack Humphrey calmly volleyed the ball over the crowd into the net for a 1-0 lead.

For a while the game was end to end. Samir Ali shot high and wide for the Bees and Aron Gordon could only fire his shot at home keeper, George Marsh, after he had been left clear following a slip by Kye Jude. Most of Basildon’s creativity came through Ben Allen and Ramiah Mills’ long throw-ins.

Just after the half hour, Billy Crook found debutant Matas Skarna but again his shot was saved by Marsh. The home side then went up the other end and Grays failed to clear the ball, which fell kindly to Ben Allen who finished smartly for the equaliser.

Half time: Basildon United 1 v 1 Grays Athletic

The second half never really got going as a spectacle. An early chance fell again to Jack Humphrey but he headed over. But it then took more than twenty minutes for another opportunity, when Malaki Toussaint fired over from distance.

Charlie Stimson then lost the ball in midfield and Samir Ali broke free but Danny Sambridge, playing despite being injured, kept the chance out. Ali then tried a curling shot from outside the box and everyone held their breath as the ball went just wide of the upright.

Aron Gordon and Elliot Sartorius then broke away with a fine passing move but the ball ricocheted away for a corner, which came to nothing.

With ten minutes to go, Basildon broke the deadlock. A long ball downfield from Alex Moss cleared the Blues defence, Sambridge dithered and Allen, running through, made the most with a clinical finish to take a 2-1 lead.

Grays tried their best to pull the game back. Aron Gordon went on a typical mazy run but was cynically brought down by Clyde Semazzi, who was lucky to escape with a yellow card.

So Grays were left to rue another missed opportunity to take something away from a game that was there for the taking. But the chance to make amends comes quickly with a re-arranged home game again Brightlingsea on Tuesday evening.

Final score: Basildon United 2 v 1 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath - Sambridge, Ashley, Skarna, Toussaint, Finneran (Milner, 15), Humphrey, Sartorius (Clarke, 86), Crook, Stimson, Cosgrave, Gordon

Subs not used - Matyar, Unwin, Carlos