The Blues came out looking the more composed of the teams as they attacked from the off when Craig Pope ran wide to put the ball to David Cowley but his cross into the path of Joe Sweeney was cleared for a corner. A lively Matt Mitchell always looked a danger and his quick break caught out the home defence but his shot went well wide.

Grays were in control for long periods with Joao Carlos’ pace causing problems and a solid cross found Anthony Ryan only for his shot to fly over the bar. Stanley Muguo continued his good form as he held solid in the middle and tried to release the wide men, and Cowley was involved in a good move with Carlos but his cross was over hit with Sweeney and Ryan in space.

Steve Cawley and Tim Shaw broke clear only to be flagged for offside to remind the Blues to maintain concentration as they tried to work a way through, but Abbey found a way to release Cawley to cross to Shaw but he headed harmlessly wide. Grays were still looking comfortable as they forced a corner and Junior Baker was unlucky to see his header slip wide from Cowley’s cross.

Hayward was in solid form as shots from Cowley, Carlos and Sweeney were well saved as the home side went looking to open the scoring but were unable to find the net. The Abbots upped their pace and some fine interplay between Mitchell and Cawley saw Shaw’s shot well held by Andy Hall but Grant Cooper pulled up with hamstring problems to be replaced by Bradley Thomas.

Sweeney was looking sharp and saw one shot charged down and his second chance roll wide when off balance, he was cursing his luck when twice clear, one on one, to see Hayward save both chances and keep a clean sheet. The half ended with the Blues still pushing after a solid performance.

Grays started the second half as they finished the first when they attacked at length. Ryan headed wide and a Cowley cross was held by Hayward as they played some neat football. Harry Agombar was getting into the game and picked up a pass from Carlos to twist past his defender and hit a hard shot at the keeper, whose palmed save fell at the feet of Ryan for him to tap the ball in to give the Blues the lead with seven minutes of the half gone.

Ryan ran for everything as the Blues pushed forward, and was unlucky not to add to his total from an Agombar corner when Hayward punched the ball clear of his head. Loren Maxwell found himself clear of the home defence and his shot was deflected wide and the corner was cleared by Thomas.

Grays moved forward again and a Carlos corner saw Hayward miss the ball and for it to bounce high over the bar with Ryan and Sweeney free. Danny Bunce came on for a tiring Carlos as Grays looked like a team in command and immediately made a difference when he picked up a Cowley pass and hit a hard low cross which Hayward could only save after a fumble.

Jared Small came on for Ryan with the Blues camped in the away half and his pace pulled the defence wide. From a throw Cowley crossed perfectly for Bunce to rise above everyone to head the ball into the net to double the lead with ten minutes to go. With the game safe Grays took it too easy when an error let Jack Daveney through but a superb tackle in the box by Baker cleared the ball from danger.

The referee ended a dominant half by the Blues to put them back into the league title race and with a tough match away to Leiston to follow.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Lee Flynn, Grant Cooper (Bradley Thomas 40), Junior Baker, Craig Pope, David Cowley, Stanley Muguo, Harry Agombar, Joao Carlos (Danny Bunce 70), Joe Sweeney, Anthony Ryan (Jared Small 80)

Subs not used: - Joe McEvoy, Jean-Michel Sigere.

Report by Steve Allen.