Battling Blues earn fine draw

Grays headed up the M11 on Tuesday evening seeking to protect their unbeaten pre-season record at Isthmian Premier outfit Bishops Stortford and came out of the affair with great credit and a 2-2 draw.
The early exchanges were fast and furious with the home side looking to show their class with more movement, quicker tackles and greater menace going forward. So, it was no surprise when Stortford took the lead after just five minutes, Blues failing to stop the cross into the box and allowing a free header. The travelling fans feared the worst. But just four minutes later Grays were level, Correy Davidson putting the ball into a dangerous area, with Sam Bantick getting on the end to make it 1-1
Bishops Stortford maintained the pressure though and deservedly re-gained the lead on 21 minutes with a fine solo goal, Darren Foxley dancing into right side of the penalty area and then curling the shot past Danny Sambridge inside the opposite post, for a 2-1 scoreline.
It wasn’t really until after the half hour mark that Grays began to get a proper toehold in the game, starting to be less wasteful in possession and moving the ball better around the back lines. Kieron Jones began to impose himself on the midfield but Stortford were still creating too many chances for the Blues to relax
Half time Bishops Stortford 2 v Grays Ath 1
The second 45 minutes proved to be the best seen by Blues fans so far this season. Subs Callum Watts and Josh Osude made an immediate impression and the half was only two minutes in when Watts drove forward from midfield before shooting wide. Blues were much more on the front foot but were lucky not to go further behind when the ball rolled across their own 6-yard box, with no Stortford player able to finish the job.
Aron Gordon came off the bench to add yet more pace and on 70 minutes he combined well with Courteney Homans, finding Watts on the edge of the box, who drilled his shot wide of the home keeper to bring the score back to 2-2.
It was now almost a cup tie atmosphere and moments later, with the keeper out of his goal, Bantick tried a speculative shot from fully 40 yards, only to see the ball drift agonisingly wide. Soon after Homans brought a good save with an attempt from the edge of the penalty area. Both sides gave their all right up to the final whistle but neither could find a winner.
Final score: Bishops Stortford 2 v 2 Grays Ath
So, a fine battling performance against quality opponents and possibly the best result of the pre-season so far. With each game, manager Lewis Dark is learning more about his new squad and the players are responding well to the challenges he’s setting them.
We wish Bishops Stortford all the best for their season to come and now look forward to joining battle again with Tilbury at home on Saturday in the Annual Stan Veness Memorial Trophy.