Grays will host Uxbridge in the 1st Round of this season's FA Youth Cup after a 2-1 victory at AFC Hornchurch in a pulsating tie that saw Blues coming under considerable pressure towards the end of the first half and digging deep to produce a tremendous second half effort and turn the game on it's head.

Blues started the better side against a well organised and physical team and had the Urchins penned into their own half. Passing and movement were good and Tamburini was linking up well with Gokcinen down the left while Omar was causing problems down the right.

Grays took an early lead after Kwartem was dragged to the floor in the six yard box. There were no complaints as the referee pointed to the spot. Blues skipper Danny Swallow stepped up to emphatically slam the ball home and make it 1-0 to the visitors after 5 minutes.

Blues continued to press and both Omar and Kwartem should have done better with the good chances that came their way. A little too much swagger started to creep into the game and away went the discipline and the short, sharp passing that had been so effective.

Too often the ball was given away cheaply and where there had been no battle for control of the middle third Blues suddenly found themselves chasing the ball as the home side were able to pick out passes to their pacy wingers and strong centre forward Owen Edobor, who had an excellent game tonight.

The warning signs were there and as Hornchurch pressed further up the pitch and launched it long whenever they won possession their pacy wide men were causing problems for the Blues. Just after 30 minutes had gone the home side had the goal their play deserved. A good run down the left by Walker gave the winger time and space to check inside and find Kelly running forward from midfield and he stroked it home from the edge of the box.

Shortly after, Hornchurch had rattled the woodwork and with Ogunsalu clearly struggling with an injury the Blues were rocking. Lewis Greene made two good saves and one excellent stop to ensure the scores remained level going in at the break with Hornchurch wondering how and why they were not going in at half time with a comfortable lead.

After a half-time hairdryer and rousing rallying call the Blues were a completely different side in the 2nd period. Jack Fowler replace Ogunsalu, coming in at centre half with Moncunda going in at right back where his pace would close the line down.

Both sides were playing good football going forward but Hornchurch still seemed to create the better openings and they had 3 good chances in the opening 10 minutes of the 2nd half but were unable to score that vital 2nd goal.

Sami Omar dropped deeper forcing his marker, Remy Mathurin - another standout player for the Urchins on the night - to either come out of position and leave a gap or leave Omar unmarked and available for the ball. Kenan Gokcinden was finding space down the left and linking up well with Moses and Tamburini.

Johnson and Kwartem were playing with more intent and started to run at the Urchins back line, keeping the ball well and bringing in the wide players who got the ball into dangerous areas and made the home side work harder. When the play broke down Blues pressed the ball immediately and stopped the long balls forward. When the ball did get whacked clear Moncunda and Tamburini were solid and disciplined and had the lines locked down and Murata and Fowler were winning every header. Danny Swallow was winning the second ball in the middle third and Brian Moses was calming things down, dropping deep for the ball and driving into space and setting up attack after attack.

On the soft pitch both sets of players were working very hard and a few players were going down with cramp. Gokcinden was replaced by Luke Casey after injuring his achiles. Casey went on the right with Omar moving to the left. The tiring Danny Swallow was replaced by 16-year-old Jamie Fuller.

Blues had the home side under pressure and Urchin's keeper Joe Morris was called into action a number of times. Hornchurch were struggling to get any momentum to force a way back into the game and Grays were retaining their composure and discipline and were starting to ask real questions of their opponents.

The match was ultimately settled after a free kick was awarded to Grays after the referee, who until this moment had turned in an impressive performance, adjudged Lewis Greene to have been fouled. Hornchurch felt hard done by and as they protested the decision the free kick was taken quickly to Tamburini. The Blues defender sent Kwartem down the left with a smart pass along the floor and the big striker was able to shield the ball, play himself behind the full back and into the area before switching to his right foot to send the ball into the far corner and give the visitors a deserved lead with 8 minutes to go.

The Urchins went to three at the back but the Hornchurch keeper made a brilliant and brave save at the feet of Brian Moses with 4 minutes remaining. Both players went after a 50/50 ball and Morris came off his line to throw his body at the ball and smother the shot.

Hornchurch were still in it and threw everything forward but Blues refused to let nerves get the better of them and when Lewis Greene got a safe, solid pair of hands on a dangerous ball lifted into the box just on the 90 minutes there were cheers from the tense visiting supporters.

After almost five minutes of stoppage time the referee brought an entertaining game to a close.

Blues squad:

Greene
Ogunsalu
Tamburini
Murata
Moncunda
Gokcinen
Swallow
Moses
Johnson
Kwartem
Fowler
Fuller
Armistead
Casey

Our thanks must go to Hornchurch for the excellent post-match hospitality.