Grays Athletic travelled to Waltham Abbey on Tuesday evening for their BBC Essex Senior Cup tie but came up against a well-drilled and skillful opposition who proved too much for the Blues on the night.

Grays created few chances over the 90 minutes, but the first came just five minutes in when home keeper Bradley Robinson lost the flight of a high ball into the area as it came out of the floodlights but Blues couldn’t profit from the mistake. Waltham Abbey played a measured passing game that was a pleasure to watch and were particularly effective out wide on both flanks. They also possessed a deadly long-throw merchant and Kenedi Dariri had to be sharp on the goalline to prevent one exocet of a throw leading to a goal.

But the home side didn’t have to wait long. A swift interchange of passes got them up the pitch and no-one from the Blues defence pressed Nathan Koranteng who shot accurately for a 1-0 lead. And it was nearly two soon after when Nick Brown forced Jayden Peglar, in the Grays goal to pull off a smart save.

And then came a candidate for the annual bloopers reel. Home skipper, Sam Robbins, who was the architect of much that was good about his side’s play, sold his keeper Robinson woefully short with a back pass. Luke Hirst gratefully accepted the opportunity to level the score at 1-1.

At this point, Grays were probably playing their best football of the evening. Matas Skarna was lively on the left, combining well with Danny Gould with Reon Smith-Kouassi likewise on the right. Blues then provided their own comedy moment when Elliott Sartorius played the ball into the box, only for Hirst and George Craddock to both produce air shots.

And just before the break, Prince Domafriyie brought Peglar’s the first of two fine saves on the night, low down to his right.

Half time : Waltham Abbey 1 v 1 Grays Athletic

Blues were fortunate to go in level at the break but after a couple of early chances for Waltham Abbey it was 2-1 to the home side thanks to a fine curling shot from the left edge of the box from half-time sub Amrit Bansal.

The home defence then tried the short back pass routine again but this time keeper Robinson was just sufficiently alert to the danger to deny Hirst a second. Louie Remi and Aron Gordon both came off the bench for Grays and looked lively but there was not enough up front to threaten the home goal.

With ten minutes to go, Kymani Thomas let fly from distance and Peglar had to be agile to tip the ball over the crossbar to keep Blues in the game. But things were wrapped up soon after when a free kick from the left wing produced panic in the Grays defence, with the ball pinging in all directions including off the crossbar before Troy Chiaba hooked his shot in from close range for a decisive 3-1 scoreline.

In truth, Waltham Abbey were well worth their win on the night, playing the more attractive football and creating the majority of the chances. So Blues now only have the league to concentrate on, which might, in the long run, prove to be a blessing.

Final score: Waltham Abbey 3 v 1 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Peglar, Henry-Rose, Skarna, Machado, Dariri, Walker, Gould (Gordon), Sartorius, Hirst (Carlos), Craddock (Sandhu-Nelson), Smith-Kouassi (Remi)

Subs not used : none