Grays Athletic 1 - 0 Leiston

Both teams looked nervous as they started the match and both tried to settle into their stride. A free-kick from Leiston saw Gareth Heath put the ball over to awaken the home side and the Blues started to attack.

A quick break saw Jared Small go close to force a corner, Joao Carlos put the ball across but Bradley Thomas could only fire wide as the pace sharpened. Harry Agombar looked sharp but saw a pass intercepted by Joe Jefford and Andy Hall had to make a save as Heath shot at goal. The half continued with end-to-end attacks, and the ever lively Heath was stopped by Kenny Beaney when clear then a free-kick by Lee Flynn saw Junior Baker head over.

Hall saved from the head of Jefford but it was the away keeper who pulled off the save of the half when Small headed on to Joe Sweeney and a brave dive by Johnson held the ball to stop the move. Grays were beginning to get on top as Agombar hassled to control the ball and a sharp pass to Sweeney saw Johnson pull off another good save. A Flynn cross was headed clear and from the corner David Cowley saw his shot headed off the line by Dave Head.

Both teams looked to open the scoring but wild shooting and saves from both keepers kept the sheet clean. Hall pulled off a good save from a Heath run and released the ball long for Small to force a corner in the dying seconds of the half. Carlos put the ball into the box only for Head to handle the ball and for Grays to be awarded the penalty. Agombar stepped up to hit the ball into the net to give the home side the lead on the stroke of half time.

Both teams carried on in the second half with the end to end play and it was Carlos who almost doubled the Blues lead with a run and shot that was again cleared off the line by the ever reliable Dave Head. Rhys Henry was starting to make his presence felt for the away side and a wide run saw his cross saved by Hall off the head of Danny Smy as Leiston got on top, and it was a Head throw that released Heath to see his shot go just over. Johnson in the away goal was on form as he saved shots from Cowley and Carlos as the Blues came back.

The game started to become a midfield battle as both teams looked to find a way through and solid tackles from both sides slowed the play as both teams struggled to control play. Carlos found a way through with a clever run but was disappointed to see his shot, across goal, hit the far post to be cleared by Head. Grays brought on Jean-Michel Sigere for Sweeney with ten minutes to go as Grays looked to use his height to move forward but the ever dangerous opposition upped their pace looking forward to level.

Leiston enjoyed their most forceful period of the match and moved forward in numbers chasing the equalizer and Hall pulled off a series of saves to stop a run of corners forced by the away side with sub Blake Saker using his speed and guile to pressurise the home defence. A late substitution brought Stuart Thurgood on for Cowley but the last play went Henry as he ran clear to release the ball to Smy, his shot went over the bar as the ref blew for full time to give the Blues the win they needed.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Craig Pope, Junior Baker, Bradley Thomas, Lee Flynn, Joao Carlos, Harry Agombar, Kenny Beaney, David Cowley (Stuart Thurgood 88), Jared Small, Joe Sweeney (Jean-Michel Sigere 80)

Subs not used: - Grant Cooper, Danny Bunce, Stanley Muguo.