Before this week's preview, a sincere word of thanks to stalwart Blues fan, Richard Medhurst, for his fantastic work throughout the season bringing you these match previews. More great work in the background of our wonderful club. Anyway..........

After 9 months of competitive action, Grays play their last game of the season on Saturday 25th April, away at play off chasing Gorleston. As I'm sure you will know, Gorleston play their home games at the Wellesley Recreation ground in sunny Great Yarmouth. Kick off is 3.00pm.

Our Annual Community Day last Saturday was a great success and grows bigger each year. It was a nice touch to have all the other teams who wear our colours parading round the pitch at halftime taking the applause from the stands.

There was the added bonus of a season's best attendance of 640 for our crunch game against Lowestoft. Sadly, we could not find the result we needed to 100% guarantee survival in Isthmian North, but congratulations to The Trawlerboys on doing so. Despite this, (barring a bizarre set of results on Saturday), we should be safe for another season in Isthmian North.

Our Last Meeting With The Greens

In the reverse league fixture played on 22nd November at the EMR, Grays caused an upset beating The Greens 2-1. It was a story of two red cards issued by the referee and one he did not issue. Grays took a first half lead as Sam Wade scored from a Jack Stone flick on. The referee then saw Gorleston's Joe Marsden kicking out at Oscar Shelvey and issued a straight red card.

Just before half time, Macca Joynes went up for a header on the half way line and was a fraction late. There was no intent but the official issued a yellow card which was Macca's second of the match and we were down to 10 men each. Straight after half time, Michael Bareck set up Sam for a well taken second. Gorleston then got back into the game as Cameron Beazer headed a far post corner home.

Late on Jack Stone was brought down as he bore down on goal but the referee decided he'd shown enough red for one day and issued a yellow card. On another day it could have been a red, but it mattered not, as Grays held on for a much needed win.

Head to Head Record v Gorleston

Grays and Gorleston have met on 7 occasions with 4 wins for The Blues and 2 for The Greens with one draw. Away from home, we have beaten Gorleston twice and lost once, in last year's game.

In The Dugout

Gorleston's manager is Darren Cockrill, now completing his 4th season in charge having been appointed in October 2022. Darren is assisted by Ollie Willis.

The Green's Season to Date

Gorleston finished one place above Grays last season, separated only by goal difference. Whilst we have struggled to rebuild after close season departures, The Greens have had no such problems. They have matched last season's total of 68 points with our game to come and they are currently in 7th position, behind Bowers and Pitsea and Redbridge on goal difference.

At home, they have only lost to the top 4 in the table, plus Takeley. Their home form would see them in the play offs, but there have been too many defeats on the road.

In cup competitions, they won through 3 rounds in the FA Cup before falling to defeat at Waltham Abbey. In the FA Trophy, they were handed a very tough tie away at Leighton Town (who beat Hitchin to the Southern League Central title) and lost 2-0. In the Norfolk Senior Cup they made it through to the semi final drawing 2-2 with Thurlow Nunn Premier League Champions, Mulbarton Wanderers, before losing on penalties. Mulbarton should be joining Isthmian North next season and look like they will be a competitive outfit.

Top Scorers

The Greens leading goalscorer is Ryan Curtis who has hit the net 13 times this term (10 in the league). He is closely followed by Joe Marsden with 12 (9) and Luke Johnson and Alby Matthews who have 8 apiece (all in league games).

Recent Form

The two sides have very similar records over their last 6 games but very different records when you look at home v away form.

In their last 6 games, Gorleston have W2 and L4 with 8 goals for and 14 against.
Their last 6 home games have seen a return of W4 and L2 with 9 goals for and 6 against.

Grays last 6 games have also resulted in W2 and L4 with 5 goals for and 7 against.
However, our last 6 away games have seen D1 and L5 with only 2 goals for and 9 against. Ouch!

Last Time

Gorleston had a double header with Champions Elect, Maldon and Tiptree. After several postponements, their home game took place on Wednesday 15th April and resulted in a 3-1 win for The Jammers. Dylan Williams and Ross Wall scored in the first half before Ryan Curtis halved the deficit. A second yellow for Dion Frary was followed by a third goal for the visitors with Freddie Sears the scorer.

The return game on Saturday, played at Maldon saw the second best attendance of the season, a crowd of 1,514 and a 4-1 win for the home side. Again they led 2-0 at half time through Terrell Egbri and Ross Wall. Further goals after half time from Mikey Faulkner and Matt Yates meant that Luke Johnson's reply was just a consolation.

For Blues, it was a huge game at home to Lowestoft. Jordan Clarke returned to the team in a midfield role, with Sam Wade dropping to the bench. A cagey start saw Lowestoft take the initiative through Aaron Bullent's looping header, which found George Marsh in no mans land. Grays had two great chances to equalise but were unable to take either. In the 2nd half, after another disappointing slow start, Blues went to sleep defending a free kick which broke to Kyle Haylock and he struck well past George to give The Trawlerboys breathing space.

Losing 2-0 with 25 minutes to go in the most important game of the season and suddenly The Blues found the intensity that had been missing. Lowestoft defended resolutely until Sam Wade got down the wing and centred perfectly for Caiden Ellis Remy-Dee to score with his first touch since coming on as a substitute. With 5 minutes plus injury time left and 5 substitutes on the pitch, Grays drove forward, but as so often this season, a lack of nous in the final third meant we came up short and could not find the equaliser which would have guaranteed safety.

Had results elsewhere gone against us, this could have been the most damaging defeat of the entire season. However, yet again, we were lucky with results elsewhere, with Takeley and Mildenhall both losing.

The Play off Picture

Stanway's home victory over Tilbury assured them of 4th place and an away tie in the play off semi final, at Waltham Abbey.

Fifth position and the final play off place is up for grabs after Redbridge travelled to Bowers and Pitsea and won 2-0. There are 4 teams in with a shout, with Bowers still occupying 5th place on 68 points. On the final day, they travel to Newmarket Town knowing a win will secure that play off spot and almost certainly a semi final tie at Felixstowe and Walton.

Also on 68 points are Redbridge, who host Concord Rangers on Saturday and our hosts, Gorleston. One point behind these three are Wroxham who travel to Takeley, with a slim chance as they have to win and the 3 other teams must all fail to do so.

The Last Relegation Place

Mildenhall are in 19th place on 41 points and on the final day visit Felixstowe and Walton who theoretically could overtake Maldon and Tiptree with a win and a loss for The Jammers at Walthamstow. However, with a 15 goal difference between them, they are more likely to finish in 2nd place after a superb effort this season. Whether Felixstowe rest players with an eye on the play offs, or go for the win to maintain momentum, is a conundrum for their joint managers.

Whatever, Mildenhall will be relegated if they fail to win and even if they do turn the formbook upside down, they could still be face the drop back to Step 5.

On 44 points, alongside Grays but with a goal difference of 17 worse, are Takeley, who host Wroxham knowing they need a point to secure Step 4 football next season. Their goal difference is also worse than Mildenhall's but their fate is in their own hands. A defeat for Takeley opens the door for Mildenhall if they can win at Felixstowe.

Hopefully it is only theory, but for Grays to finish in the final relegation place, we would need to lose heavily at Gorleston with Mildenhall getting a big win at Felixstowe and the combined results overturning an 11 goal difference. Also Takeley would need to get at least a point to overtake us.

Getting There

Hopefully many of you will be on the coach which leaves The Oak at 10.15. Please don't be late!

If you are travelling up by car it should take around 3 hours with a short pit stop. The Stadium postcode is NR30 1EF.

Two choices; the more direct route is via the A12 all the way to Lowestoft and then follow the signs for Great Yarmouth (A12 then A47). Once over the Breydon Bridge follow the signs for town centre (A149) at the Runham Roundabout.

Go over the River and straight on at Fullers Roundabout. The road bears left into Priory Plain (B1141). Follow the signs for the Sea Front into St Nicholas Road and then Euston Road. The turn for Wellesley Road is on the left a few hundred yards from the sea front. Don't worry if you miss it, keep going to the front and turn left on to North Drive and then left on to Albemarle Road.

A longer route, but potentially quicker as it's nearly all motorway or dual carriageway, is via the M11 to J9, then the A11 to the Norwich By Pass. Here head East on the A47 all the way to Great Yarmouth and join the A149 at the Runham Roundabout, then follow the instructions as above.

I'm not aware of any parking within the ground, but there should be plenty of space on surrounding roads.

Summary

So a campaign which started back in early August with a hard fought win at Barking in the FA Cup, comes to a conclusion on the Norfolk Coast. It's not been the season we hoped for, but the table does not lie and we are where we are for a reason.

On paper, the game looks a shoe-in for Gorleston who have been strong at home all season. For Grays, our away form this season has been very poor, with our only victories on the road being at the 3 "B's"; Bowers, Brightlingsea and Brantham. We have scored a paltry 16 goals in 20 away league games and no matter how good your defence, you aren't going to win many games with that return.

However, Saturday is a final opportunity to show what the team can do. If we can find the spirit that we mustered against Bowers, Wroxham and Concord, we can still finish the season on a high and come home with the points.

One constant all season has been our terrific support, both home and away. Imagine what it would be if we were the ones going for a play off space on Saturday! We know many of you will be making your way up to Norfolk, perhaps for a weekend and attending the game. Let's hope we can sign off a tough season, with a good result.

For one last time this season; Up The Ath!!