On Saturday, Grays travel to North East Essex for a first ever meeting with Little Oakley FC. Kick off at the Memorial Ground is 3.00pm.

The Acorns (good nickname by the way), are in their debut season in Isthmian North, having been crowned Champions of the Essex Senior League, last season. They had 25 wins in a 38 game season, finishing 2 points clear of Soul Tower Hamlets. Knowing how competitive the Essex Senior League has become, it was a fine achievement.

Manager

The Acorns had a change of manager in close season with James Good and Daryl Eagle stepping down, although James still has an off field role. The team are now managed by Paul Phelan supported by Lee Townrow, Glenn Eldridge and Andy Perry.

Close Season

Most of Little Oakley's successful squad were retained for this campaign. James Askew, Jack Ladbrook, George Davis, Luke Hipkin, Rory Harman, Bobby Badham, Kieran Williams, Dan Keeble, Josh McFaull, Jordi Papple and Dylan Kettley-Gregan all stayed at The Memorial Ground.

Bobby Rea moved to Tilbury, but Tobias Braney joined after spending time with Heybridge Swifts and Tilbury last season and Luke Mayhew returned from local rivals, Harwich and Parkstone.

Early Season Form

The Acorns have made a good start to life in the Isthmian League, winning 4 of their 8 games and are in 11th place in the table with 14 points. Their league season started late due to involvement in the FA Cup with their first match being a derby versus Brightlingsea Regent, which they won 3-1. They followed this with a good win away at Witham Town. Their other victories have come at Lowestoft Town 5-0 and at home to Fakenham Town (see below).

In September their home game with Concord Rangers had to be abandoned due to a horrible injury to their player, Josh Hughes. I believe that in the evening after our game they have a fundraiser for Josh who will be out for the rest of the season.

In the FA Cup they won away at Eastern Counties League Kirkley and Pakefield before losing 0-1 at Mulbarton Wanderers. Their debut in the F.A.Trophy ended with a home defeat to Southern League Central outfit, Biggleswade, on penalties, following a 2-2 draw. In the Velocity Cup, Witham Town gained revenge for the league game, winning 5-2.

Next Tuesday night they host Southend United in the Essex Senior Cup, which will be a special evening for the club, I'm sure.

In their last 6 league games, Little Oakley have Won 2, Drawn 2 and Lost 2, scoring and conceding 11 goals.
Leading scorers are Luke Mayhew with 5 (4 in the league), Tobias Braney with 4 (3) and Josh McFaull, Dan Keeble and Dylan Kettley-Gregan with 3 apiece.

Last Time Out

On Tuesday evening, The Acorns hosted Fakenham Town and got the win, 3-2. The Ghosts opened the scoring on 25 minutes through Oser Okpiabhele, but The Acorns were level 3 minutes later as Tobias Braney equalised from the spot. Into the second half and another spot kick for the hosts was dispatched by Luke Hipkin. This time it was Fakenham getting back level quickly through Fin Whiteley. Little Oakley got the winner on 70 minutes which was credited to Dan Keeble but could have been Jack Ladbrook and could have been an OG, as a crowd of players went up for a header which ended up in the net.

For Blues, it was another sobering night that ended in a 5-1 home defeat. Hashtag have a very effective way of playing and they are well drilled in doing so. All 7 of their league wins have been by 3 goals or more and that tells you something. It would be no surprise to see them on top of the table at the end of the season. Grays fought hard and could even have got back level in the second half, when they showed the intent that was largely absent in the first 45. Denim scored his 4th league goal this term, but the chance for an equaliser would not come and Hashtag were relentless in the final 20 minutes.

Getting There

It's about 65 miles from Grays to Little Oakley's Memorial Ground. The postcode is CO12 5ED.

By car from Grays, head east on the A13 to Saddlers Farm and take the A130 then the A12 to Junction 29. Exit here on the A120 and follow this toward Harwich. Leave the A120 taking at the exit for the B1352 signposted to Dovercourt. Take the third exit and after 400 metres, opposite a church, turn right into Mayes Road. Turn left at a mini roundabout (still Mayes Road), until the T-junction then turn right and the entrance to the ground is on your right after less than 100 metres.

There is a car park and an overflow car park at the back, so you should not have to park on the street.
It should take about 75-80 minutes from Grays, but there have been works on both the A13 and on the A12 between Hatfield Peverel and Marks Tey, so it would be sensible to allow longer.

Little Oakley is served by buses that run past the ground and connect to Colchester, Harwich and Dovercourt railway stations.

Summary

One of the pleasures of non-league football is travelling to a new ground to meet a team for the first time. Not that Little Oakley will want to extend their hospitality to the pitch. They have made a good start and will be confident of another win on Saturday.

At some stage, Grays will have to snap their winless run away from home. The 6 league games played away from home have yielded just 1 point and 3 goals scored, 2 of those against Concord. Our record of just 9 goals scored in the league is the joint worst in the division with Fakenham and needs addressing if we want to climb the table. Saturday will be a tough and competitive match but a chance to get ourselves back on track again.

We need to stand strong during this difficult period, so please make every effort to join us at Little Oakley on Saturday and get behind the team.

Away The Ath!