On Wednesday night, Grays Athletic put their fans through the ringer before coming home victorious in their Velocity Cup tie against Walthamstow at Wadham Lodge. Manager, Darren Manning rang the changes in his team selection, especially in defence, where a new-look back four aimed to keep the speedy Stow forwards at bay.

The game was a real one of two halves but unlike in recent performances, it was Grays who had much the better of the first half. Indeed, it was probably Blues best 45 minutes of the season to date, with so much energy and positive play. Chances came thick and fast for the visitors in the first few minutes. Louie Remi, Luke Hirst and Elliott Sartorius all had excellent opportunities before Hirst opened the scoring for Blues when he met Remi’s cross with a powerful header from around the penalty spot, that gave home keeper, Lewis Greene, no chance.

Aron Gordon then created further chances, one for Hirst with a fine through ball, that Greene saved and then a run of his own that he couldn’t finish.

It took Walthamstow until the quarter hour mark to threaten the Grays goal, minded for the first time by Jayden Peglar (who was later to be the star of the evening). Shermandine Artmeladze and Kymani Thomas attacked with pace to burn and it was the latter who’s shot skimmed the crossbar.

But Blues continued to attack with Gordon and Hirst passing up further chances before Matas Skarna just missed with a curling shot from outside the box. And just before the break, Artmeladze turned up on the left wing and rasped a shot over from a narrow angle.

Half time: Walthamstow 0 v 1 Grays Athletic

Walthamstow came out firing in the second half and the Blues defence had to be fully on their mettle to repel all borders. Ali Njie found himself free in the six yard box but couldn’t finish and Thomas tested Peglar with a tricky shot, before Louie Johnson shot wide.

Stow spent long periods in the Grays half but couldn’t make the breakthrough but equally, Blues weren’t able to extend their lead and were always in danger only one goal ahead. The nearest they came was just before the 90 minute mark when Skarna went on a great run down the left - his cross was scuffed by Hirst but the ball fell to Albert Perry whose shot was blocked for a corner.

But as the clock ticked into injury time, Walthamstow were throwing the kitchen sink at the Blues goal, with the visitors hanging on for dear life. And finally in the 97th minute the pressure told, when Njie netted from close range to level the scores.

And there was still time for Grays to miss a golden opportunity to re-take the lead, Perry’s cross headed wide by sub Bobby Unwin, when it seemed easier to score.

And so to the dreaded penalty shootout. And the hero was Grays’ debutant keeper, Jayden Peglar, who made two brilliant saves, leaving Jack Humphrey to net the winner and take Grays into the next round.

Unwin ✔ Hazlewood ✔
Hirst X Moses X
Dariri ✔ Johnson ✔
Skarna ✔ Artmeladze X
Humphrey ✔

Final score: Walthamstow 1 v 1 Grays Athletic
Grays Ath win 4-2 on penalties

Grays Ath: Peglar, Dariri, Skarna, Walker, Moss (60, Humphrey), Gordon (46, Perry), Toussaint, Hirst, Craddock (67, Damrell), Sartorius (90, Finneran), Remi (63, Unwin)

Subs not used: none