On Tuesday evening, after the referee’s last minute postponement of the original fixture on New Year’s Day, Grays Athletic have a second attempt to stage the league fixture against local rivals, Basildon United. The weather is again though closing in, so the game must be in doubt. A pitch inspection has been arranged for 4pm, so watch out for announcements on social media.

Having started the season in great form, the visitors have been on a poor recent run of form in recent months. Their last league win was in mid-October and they are currently on a run of five consecutive defeats. Those games have seen the Bees score three and concede sixteen. Their last point was just after Christmas in a 3-3 draw with Haringey Borough. They presently sit seventeenth in the table with 25 points from 26 games, just two points above the drop zone.

Basildon’s squad includes a number of former Blues - two Ryans, Sammons and Richefond, Karl Kayembe, Nidal Berri and recent loanee Reon Smith-Kouassi. Of course, we also have more than a smattering of ex-Bees in our line-up (Samir Ali, Alejandro Machado) as well as our manager, Darren Manning, all of which adds to the fascination of the contest.

We have already visited Gardiner’s Close earlier this season, on August Bank Holiday Monday. What is best described as a truly unforgettable game, had 0-0 written all over it, until a shot from Darren Esuka took a wicked deflection off Michael Finneran, giving Danny Sambridge no chance. That probably summed up Blues luck in those early weeks of the season.

Blues performances of late have been something of a mixed bag. The performance at Felixstowe, this time last week was outstanding, but Saturday’s showing against Waltham Abbey was difficult to assess, plenty of commitment, goals and chances but poor in defence. However, it’s time to get back to where the team were, just a few weeks ago - turning commitment into three points.

Everything being equal, the game kicks off at 7.45pm at the EMR Stadium, Tilbury.

Come on you Blues !