On Tuesday night, Grays travel east on the A13 to meet Bowers and Pitsea in an Isthmian North derby game. Kick off at the Len Salmon Stadium is 7.45pm. It seems strange that 5 of our first 7 league games should be played away from home, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. We have received home draws in both the Velocity Cup, to Newmarket, on 28th October and an attractive tie in the Essex Senior Cup to National League Hornchurch FC, with that game to be played on 14th October.

Last season's corresponding fixture with Bowers was played on Halloween and it was a horror show for their goalkeeper, Joe Whitney who miscontrolled a back pass from the kick off and under pressure from Jack Stone, handled outside his area, preventing Jack from opening the scoring. A straight red card being shown, almost certainly the fastest of the season in the Isthmian Leagues. On 16 minutes it was 10 apiece as Oscar Shelvey received a straight red (subsequently rescinded on review of the video evidence). However, Grays had momentum and took a 2-0 lead into half time with Kye Jude the scorer of both goals. Ross Wall got one back for Bowers with 20 minutes left, but Grays held firm and took the win.

The return game was played at the EMR on 28th February and saw the debut of Gabriel Chapps who marked his first appearance in Blue with both goals in a crucial and well deserved 2-0 victory.

Despite those two defeats it was a positive campaign for Bowers who had to rebuild their squad following relegation back to Isthmian North. They were up in the play off places for a long time, but a bad run at the end of the season where they picked up 3 points in their last 7 games was decisive. They finished on 68 points from the 42 games played and 7th place, only 3 points and 2 places short of Redbridge in the final play off spot. Bowers also had greatly superior goal difference, so their loss at home to Redbridge in their penultimate game, was critical.

Head to Head Record

In just league games, we have met 8 times and from Grays' perspective the record is W3 D1 L4 with 7 goals for and 9 against.
In the 4 games played at the Len Salmon we have W1 D0 L3 For 3 Against 6.

In The Dugout

Bowers manager this season is Joe Flower who joined as joint manager with Luke Wilson in January 2025. Luke moved in April to join Heybridge Swifts and Joe was in sole charge for the remainder of the season. In close season, Joe stepped down but then had a change of heart and took the job on. He is assisted by Scott Duggins.

Close Season

Bowers have had to get used to big changes in close season before, and this time round it was no different. Looking at their teamsheet for the end of last season and the squad for this campaign it looks like there are only a couple of players who remained; ex Blue, Chris Millar and Riley Scopes. I won't name all the departures but George Scales and Michael Bareck have played against us for Canvey this season and Jamie Salmon, after a brief return to The Gulls is now at Witham Town. Joe Whitney signed for Hashtag. Skipper last term, Luca Albon, Alex Golder and the experienced Quentin Monville rejoined Luke Wilson at Heybridge Swifts.

New to the club are keeper, Sam Nwabuko from Redbridge, Sam Coombes who spent most of last season at Cambridge City, powerful centre half Tala Lo Seye who previously played for New Salamis and Evangelos Empochontsif who has played for several ILN clubs. Striker, Finlay Dorrell was at Canvey Island and Barking in 25/26, George Doyle who spent some time with us back in 2019/20 and moved from Brightlingsea Regent and Kojo Apanteng who was also at Cambridge City last season and has achieved promotion from this division with Hashtag. They also signed Mitchell Ward on loan from Southend United.

Former Blues in Bowers Squad

As previously mentioned, Chris Millar has remained loyal to Bowers. Chris made 7 appearances for us in the early part of 2023/24 with a single goal at New Salamis in the FA Cup.
George Doyle was with us in pre season in 2018-19 but I can't see that he played a competitive game for us.
Jayden Silcott Brown will be a familiar face to our supporters. Jayden made 20 appearances for us last season with a couple of goals and a number of assists with his trickery. He moved to Takeley where he helped them survive the drop.
Finally, Caiden Ellis Remy Dee made 7 appearances for us toward the end of last season, with 2 goals including that memorable strike against Wroxham.

Current Form

Bowers are 8th in the table with 8 points from the 6 games they have played. Things did not start well with a loss at home to Witham Town followed by a defeat at Redbridge. However, since then, they have gone 4 games unbeaten with impressive wins at home to Canvey and away at Mulbarton. They drew away games at Tilbury and at Lowestoft.

The cups have been less kind with an opening day defeat at Harefield United in the FA Cup and a loss at Waltham Abbey in the FA Trophy.

Finley Dorrell, a former FA Vase winner with Romford, has found the net 4 times this season and Jayden Silcott Brown has score twice.

Last Time Out

Bowers had a rest on Saturday as their game was postponed due to their opponents involvement in the FA Cup. Their last game was the win at Mulbarton on 12th September where they went behind in the first half but turned it around. Finley Dorrell scored from a corner and then Manny Shana scored a long range cracker in the last few minutes to make it a happy journey home.

For Blues, we faced a Wroxham side that look to be the real deal this season; well organised, hard working and with plenty of flair. They took their chances and despite our possession, they defended really well. The first goal just before half time was tough to take as the game had been very even to that point. The second goal just after the break was from our own corner and was a clincal counter attack. The third was harsh on us, but reflected Wroxham's confidence as they got only their second ever win (and first at home) against The Ath.

Other Games on Tuesday Evening

There are a full book of games on Tuesday with leaders Hashtag hosting Walthamstow. Wroxham are at home in a tasty derby against 5th placed Gorleston. Concord who are 3rd are at home to Buckhurst Hill and 4th placed Redbridge travel to 6th placed Takeley. In 7th are Cambridge City and they host Witham Town who have games to catch up thanks to their good cup form.

The only teams without a win so far are newly promoted Fakenham who host familiar opposition in Mulbarton and Brightlingsea who travel to Newmarket.

In the other games, Tilbury welcome Canvey Island, improving Felixstowe are at home to Sudbury who had a good win on Saturday. Finally, Lowestoft who have won all their points at home, host Little Oakley.

Getting to Bowers

An easier journey than Saturday. The Len Salmon stadium's postcode is SS13 2BE.

Take the A13 and exit at the Pitsea Flyover. Take the second exit from the roundabout and then right at the next roundabout heading East along the High Road. At the mini roundabout, turn left into Rectory Road. Go straight on at two mini roundabouts and about 150m after a parade of shops, turn right into Kenneth Road. Follow this to the T junction and turn right and then left into the stadium. There is a good sized car park with plenty of space.

By public transport, Pitsea railway station is closer to the ground but the connecting bus services are a walk away on Pitsea High Road. It may be better to go to Basildon station and catch a B3 bus service from outside the station. There is a stop at the junction of Rectory Road and Kenneth Road 5-10 minutes walk from the ground.

Summary

It is early days for two sides who have seen a lot of changes in close season.

Bowers appear to have settled down after a tough start and are unbeaten in 4 games. Grays have played well at home but on our travels we have largely flattered to deceive. If we want to get anything out of Tuesday's game, played on the excellent 3G at Bowers, we are going to have to be a lot tighter from front to back when we don't have the ball. We have the ability to dominate possession, but that will not get the job done without being more clinical in and around the box.

It's a game that is up for grabs for both sides, so please come on down and support the lads as they go for a first away league win this season.

Come on You G'sss!!