Grays Athletic continued their encouraging pre-season form with a hard fought win against Corinthian-Casuals. It is helpful for the squad’s learning experience to play sides offering different challenges After the trip to high-flying Chatham Town and the visit to professional opposition in Colchester United, the Casuals offered a more physical presence and the kind of side more likely to appear across the league season.

Blues started brightly with Luke Hirst forcing a good save from visiting keeper, Jack Greenaway, in just the fifth minute. Casuals also looked lively, with Malachi Hudson asking questions down the right wing.

It was Grays though that opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark. Aron Gordon’s crossfield pass found Bobby Unwin out wide left - and only he will know whether his fierce ball into the box was a cross or a shot. But it whistled past Greenaway for a 1-0 lead.

Elliott Sartorius tried his luck from distance before Unwin had two further chances to add to his tally. And shortly before the break, Blues doubled their lead. Hirst fired the ball into the six yard box and Kenedi Dariri was on hand to divert the ball home from close range for 2-0.

Half time: Grays Athletic 2 v 0 Corinthian Casuals

The second half started in less than savoury fashion, when Reyon Dillion went in two-footed on Dariri. The Grays man was lucky to escape serious injury, and despite the Casuals man showing contrition for his actions, referee Mr Marwick, had little option but to show the red card, even in a pre-season friendly.

To the visitors’ credit, they continued to play a positive game despite being a man down. Sub Frazier Osunkoya picked the pocket of Malaki Toussaint on the edge of the Grays box but fired his shot over the bar. But the visitors were not to be denied. With twenty minutes left, Jensen Allchurch collected the ball all of twenty yards out and let fly an unstoppable drive past Danny Sambridge in the Grays goal, to halve the deficit.

Both managers rang the changes as the half progressed. Albert Perry was industrious down the right for Blues and the two replacement full backs, Moss and Long again both looked composed in defence.

Grays were now playing some good passing football and Aron Gordon was finding more space to run into as the opposition tired. And he brought a great save out of sub keeper Morilo Ramos, who stuck out a leg to deny the Blues man.

With time running out, Perry’s ball into the box found Gordon who laid a pass back to Joe Damrell. He took aim and found the corner of the net to make it 3-1. Further late chances went begging but the final scoreline was probably a fair reflection of the 90 minutes.

Manager Darren Manning was pleased with the way that the squad is gelling and there looks to be competition for places across the park. After a team weekend away at Bisham Abbey, Blues return to action on Tuesday 23rd July with the annual Stan Veness Memorial Trophy against our landlords, Tilbury FC.

Final Score: Grays Athletic 3 v 1 Corinthian-Casuals

Grays Ath starting XI: Page, Dariri, Humphrey, Machado, Finneran, Toussaint, Gordon, Craddock, Hirst, Sartorius, Unwin

Subs all used: Sambridge, Perry, Moss, Long, Damrell