Our game at the EMR last season was memorable. Playing conditions were difficult with a strong wind blowing down the ground. The Yachtsmen, appropriately, mastered the windy conditions the better and got their first ever victory over The Blues, 5-2. Their final goal was scored by their goalkeeper, Ollie Sutton, who's clearance from the box took a huge bounce off the pitch and sailed over Danny Sambridge and into the net.

The reverse fixture this campaign was played at Wroxham's Ginger Pickle Stadium on 27th September and finished 1-1. Asa McGeachy opened the scoring for The Yachtsmen, before half time, with Aron Gordon getting the equaliser late in the second half.

The head to head record now stands at P9 W4 D4 L1. Grays won the first four encounters, but Wroxham have gone unbeaten since then.

Having finished in 17th place last season, Wroxham have made a big improvement this term and visit us in 8th place with 53 points from 31 games played. The race for the play off places is very tight with 4 clubs covered by 3 points.

The Yachtsmen's manager is Jordan Southgate who is in his second spell in charge. He is assisted by Darren Plowman.

Since our first meeting this season, Wroxham have added to their squad with Kai Fletcher joining on a dual registration with AFC Sudbury, Joe Henman on a dual registration with Fakenham Town, Marley Delgado moved from Thetford Town, Ryan Gray came in on loan from Cambridge United and Damari Daley has joined on loan from Norwich City for a second spell.

Top scorers

This season their leading scorers are Asa McGeachy who has 11 goals (10 in the league), James Moore with 9 (8) Shaun Taylor with 5 (5) and Travis Dodsworth who also has 5 (5).

Recent Form

Wroxham have W3 L3 with 5 goals scored and 8 conceded. In their last 6 away games they have W2 D1 L3 with 4 goals scored and 7 conceded.
Grays form is W2 D1 L3 with 6 goals scored and 7 conceded. In our last 6 home games we have W3 L3 with 9 goals scored and 8 conceded.

Last Time

Wroxham travelled down to North Essex to take on Brightlingsea Regent and went behind in the 2nd minute to a goal scored by ex Blue, Shane Temple. That was the only goal, but Regent's man of the match was their goalkeeper, so it sounds like Wroxham were competitive and on another day, could have taken something from the game.

Grays were at Newmarket Town and battled hard to win a very valuable point. Both defences were well on top and clear cut chances were at a premium. Aron Gordon gave us the lead in the first half after a neat move down the left side of the box involving Guy Norton and Gabriel Chapps. Sadly we conceded a soft equaliser soon after, with Louis Jenkins profiting from some hesitant defending, with a clever finish.

After the goals, the game became very fractious with the officials being confronted time and again by players seeking sanction for what seemed to be every challenge. The referee had a difficult job on his hands, and sadly for the game, he did not help himself with what I thought were some very questionable decisions throughout the second half. In injury time, Charlie Stimson was given a straight red for a coming together on the halfway line, when he was the last man.

Summary

Wroxham have already played once at the EMR this season, losing 2-0 to our landlords, Tilbury, back in October. They will be looking for the win on Tuesday to stay firmly in the picture for the play offs.

This season, they have played 16 games away from home winning 7. In those 16 games they have scored 14 goals and conceded 14. So if they play to form, it will be a tight game of fine margins.

Grays will hope to make the most of home advantage under the lights. Things have been freshened up by the new management team of Paul Joynes, Mitch Hahn and Lewis Clark and performances have been better, but this will be our 4th game in 11 days and the squad is severly stretched. At least there was some good news at Newmarket with the return of Harry Hope after an injury lay off. We have badly missed Harry's experience and ability to bring other forwards into play.

Don't forget that we are at home again on Saturday, when league leaders, Maldon and Tiptree are our visitors. Another game you would not want to miss.

Come on You Blues!!