From the first whistle the Blues looked to push forward and control the game and in the opening minute Anthony Ryan beat the off-side trap, to bear down on Liam Jones but a hefty clearance saw the danger eased. Wide men Nathan Gordon and Joao Carlos were in control on either wing and it was Gordon who created the next chance when he wriggled clear of the defence to cross into the box but Jones was on hand to tip the ball clear of the head of Ryan.

The away side showed why they are top scorers in the league when the lively Duane Wright ran clear but Craig Pope was on hand to clear the ball, and then a series of long throws by Rhys Barber were cleared by the organised Blues defence. Grays kept up the pressure as Grant Cooper, Gordon and Lee Flynn all had chances cleared, then in a moment of panic in the away defence Carlos, Gordon and Kenny Beaney all saw their shots cleared in a goal mouth melee.

It was Needham who broke the deadlock when a free-kick was floated into the Blues box and firstly Wright saw his shot deflected onto the bar and Danny Bloomfield tapped in from close in to give the away side the lead, against the run of play. Grays almost immediately levelled when Gordon ran clear to put the ball across the goal but the despairing run by Harry Agombar just missed the ball, then Gordon shot over from a cross by Carlos.

Needham were reduced to long ball clearances to try to create chances and Thrower found himself clear only to shoot wide. Grays were controlling the half and it was only a matter of time before they levelled and Gordon saw his well hit shot cleared by Jones and in the chase to get the ball Ryan twisted his knee and had to be replaced by James Bunn. Finally in the dying moments of the half, from a free-kick, Agombar crossed the ball to find the head of Junior Baker and his solid header flew into the goal to give the Blues a deserved goal.

The whistle went with the Blues camped in the away half and a superb display of attacking football.

The Blues came out for the second half with intent and carried on with their attacking football with the ever dangerous Gordon marauding on both sides and his fine cross saw Carlos control and turn only to see his shot run wide but within seven minutes the home side had taken the lead.

A pass by Agombar ran to Carlos and his low cross was tapped in by Gordon to give his jubilant team-mates the impetus to finish the game off. A superb double save by Jones saw first Beaney, then Agombar shots cleared and Jones managed to hold the ball when the ball rebounded off the bar, from Bunn, into his arms.

Grays doubled their lead when another rapid run by Carlos beat the defence and his low cross was tapped in by Bunn to open his account for the Blues. Carlos and Gordon were in control as they turned the Needham defence inside out and forced a series of saves and punches from Jones as they took the game forward and Agombar just failed to get onto a cross from Gordon with Jones beaten.

Carlos found Lee Flynn clear on the left and his cross was met by Gordon to put the ball past Jones to give the Blues a three goal lead with fifteen minutes to go. Grays brought on Danny Bunce for the impressive Jake Hall as they pushed forward but the long clearances by the away defence found gaps in the Blues midfield.

Thrower ran clear but a well-timed dive by George Kamurasi stopped the run, but a free-kick just outside the Blues box saw Barber run up and put the ball wide of the wall and the keeper to score an excellent goal. Needham finally woke up and moved forward looking to add to their total but fine saves from Kamurasi and a goal line clearance from Baker kept the score two goals in favour of the home side.

The final whistle went to rousing cheers from the Blues faithful and the result kept the Blues in the hunt for their ambition of a play-off position.

Grays Athletic: - George Kamurasi, Lee Flynn, Junior Baker, Grant Cooper, Craig Pope, Joao Carlos (Joe Sweeney 90), Harry Agombar, Jake Hall (Danny Bunce 73), Kenny Beaney, Nathan Gordon, Anthony Ryan (James Bunn 45)

Subs not used: - Bradley Thomas, Jean-Michel Sigere.