Grays could have been a goal down inside the first minute of the first game of the New Year were it not for a great save by new signing Tony Tucker. A free kick from the left was swung into the middle of the area and a glancing header looked destined for the bottom right hand corner for the goal until Tony Tucker at full stretch pushed the ball round the post. After the early scare, Grays began to take a firmer grip on the game and created numerous half chances that were not capitalised on.

Firstly, in the 10th minute, following a series of searching crosses from both flanks the ball broke to Kenny Beaney in the penalty area where his rasping shot was goal bound before striking a defender on the arm. The referee waved away the shouts from players and fans alike for a penalty.

In the 18th minute Joao Carlos embarked on a now trademark run from the left wing into the area and went down in a challenge with a defender. The referee again turned down cries of a penalty, though mainly from the crowd, and upon reflection was probably correct as Carlos had lost possession as entering the area.

Carlos was again in the action, when in the 23rd minute following another scramble on the edge of the area, the ball broke to Carlos 12 yards out but his rushed shot went harmlessly wide. The new strike partner for Grays of Anthony Ryan and Leon McKenzie had been pretty quiet for most of the first half, but as the ball was played over the top of the defence to the left hand side of the area in the 39th minute, Ryan went for a 50/50 with Louis Godwin-Green in the Great Wakering goal, getting to the ball before the keeper could get both hands on the ball. As Kenny Beaney picked up the loose ball and squared to David Cowley on the penalty spot, the first goal of the game looked a formality, however Cowley struggled to get control of the ball and a clearance was made for a corner.

As the half time interval grew closer, Danny Bunce picked a loose ball up on the half way line and took on several Great Wakering players, drifting all the way into the right hand side of the area. As he ghosted past the last defender he tried to shoot with the outside of his left foot but failed to get enough of the ball and the shot went wide.

Grays came out after halftime determined to get the goal that would keep them in the hunt for promotion. They were quickly rewarded in the 49th minute as a corner was swung over and never fully cleared by the defence. The ball pinged around the box and fell to Kenny Beaney’s feet five yards from goal. Godwin-Green got a hand to his shot but could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.

For the next 10 minutes Grays looked to put the game beyond doubt with a second goal, but failed to hit the target.

Firstly, in the 54th minute a long ball played over the top of the defence by Junior Baker was seized upon by McKenzie but his lob over the advancing Godwin-Green went high over the bar. Shortly after, in the 56th minute, Danny Bunce advanced down the left and played a crisp pass into Anthony Ryan on the edge of the area. His turn and shot was well blocked and the rebound ran away from the advancing Grays attackers.

As the hour mark approached, Grays seemed to be getting frustrated with the lack of clear cut chances and as a result a lack of disciple crept into their game. Grant Cooper was booked for an elbow in the 60th minute as he went for a header which resulted in the Great Wakering player having to come off.

As the game went on, Rovers sensed the chance to earn a point and in the 65th minute a snap shot by Julian Okai from the edge of the area was well tipped round the post by the ever alert Tony Tucker. This woke Grays briefly as a great one-two between Joao Carlos and Danny Bunce down the left allowed Carlos to cross into the area, but David Cowley blazed wildly over.

This was to be the last real chance Grays produced in the game as the ill-discipline took over with first Ryan being booked for dissent in the 70th minute, Harry Agombar being booked for kicking the ball away in the 74th minute and Bunce being booked for time wasting in the 80th minute, although Bunce can count himself unfortunate having tried to take the throw in three times, each time being stopped by the referee.

Grays made two changes in the last 20 minutes with Paul Olima coming on for Ryan and Joe Sweeney replacing McKenzie. Grays had to keep concentration at the back to the very end as in the dying minutes a cross was swung into the box, but the header by a Rovers player went over the bar.
As the referee blew for full time the relief amongst the Grays fans was noticeable as they realised their team had ground out a result when not playing well, something they have failed to do in recent weeks.

Grays now travel to Cheshunt on Saturday 7th January and will hope to repeat the fantastic 3-0 result there a year ago.

Grays Athletic: - Tony Tucker, Craig Pope, Grant Cooper, Junior Baker, Danny Bunce, David Cowley, Harry Agombar, Kenny Beaney, Leon McKenzie (Joe Sweeney 88), Anthony Ryan (Paul Olima 72)

Subs not used: - Bradley Thomas, Stanley Muguo, Louis Dennis.

Report by Andrew Packer