Grays started the game very organised as they sought to keep the Brentwood attack under control. Junior Baker and Grant Cooper looked assured at the back as both Leon Fisher and Dean Green probed for an opening but it was Athletic who had the first chance when a mis-kick by Andy Tomlinson went straight to Joe Sweeney and Elliot Justham had to make a smart save to prevent a goal.

Joao Carlos was linking well with Louis Dennis but Justham was on form as he held a Dennis shot as the Blues started to control the half. Grays sat back and allowed Luke Croll more space and his lively running allowed the home side to create chances, Fisher had a shot punched clear by Andy Hall and a run by James Love was cleared by Lee Flynn.

The half continued with end-to-end play without either side managing to create clear chances, but as the half came to an end the Grays defence allowed Green to get in behind them and he was fouled by Baker to give the penalty. It was duly dispatched by Ryan Doyle to make it 1 - 0 to the home side at the break.

Some harsh words must have been said by the Grays management as the away side started the second half at a pace. Carlos on the left ran at his full back and his pace caused panic in the Brentwood defence as he probed deeper into space. A cross came in and Justham could only punch it clear but no Grays player could latch onto the loose ball.

It was Carlos who created the leveller when he ran clear to cross to Dennis. His well hit shot was only parried by the home keeper and Joe Sweeney tapped in to make it 1 – 1 with ten minutes of the half gone.

Grays were now on top as they went looking for more goals when Carlos, again ran across the box to see his shot go just over the bar. Dennis ran clear only for his shot to be blocked by Tomlinson and in the melee Grant Cooper injured his shoulder when he fell and had to be replaced by Bradley Thomas.

The away side were playing some good one touch football as they moved forward in numbers, and it was Carlos who created the second goal when he picked up a pass from Sweeney and put a hard cross into the box; a fumble by Justham saw the ball pop up for Dennis to have the simplest of headers to put Athletic in front on 65 minutes.

Brentwood were looking shell shocked but to their credit they slowly got back into the game and started to insert pressure on the Grays defence. David Cowley was replaced by Jason Fontaine as Grays looked to reverse the play but Brentwood kept moving forward looking to find the equaliser. Danny Dafter and Croll used the wings to try and create chances but Hall was back on form as he held and punched clear the tame crosses. Green broke clear but good defending by Thomas prevented the forward from scoring.

It was backs to the wall defending as the away side held on and Brentwood played their own one touch game, and it was only the sending off of Tomlinson for his second booking that eased the pressure as Grays held on for a well earned victory.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Lee Flynn, Junior Baker, Grant Cooper (Bradley Thomas 56), Craig Pope, David Cowley (Jason Fontaine 78), Harry Agombar, Kenny Beaney (Danny Bunce 82), Joao Carlos, Joe Sweeney, Louis Dennis.

Subs not used: - Ali Aksoy, Jared Small.

Brentwood Town: -

Subs not used: -