Grays Athletic exited the Velocity Cup through the heartbreak of a penalty shootout at the hands of a talented Redbridge side. It was though another encouraging performance from a Blues side containing further new faces, as Darren Manning looks to rebuild the side still suffering from a slate of long-term injuries and recent departures.

Blues made a quick start to the game and opened the scoring in just the seventh minute. Oscar Shelvey-Negus made his way into the box and once again put his head in where it hurts and met the boot of home defender Henry Day, with referee Toby Carlisle pointing to the spot. Debutant, Jack Stone, stepped up and struck the ball past keeper, Jake Anderson for a 1-0 lead.

And the lead was nearly doubled soon after when Macauley Joynes played a fine first-time ball into the box which just evaded Stone.

Redbridge set about their work, playing some attractive football. They are clearly a well-drilled side, with slick passing and running off the ball. Fotsing Wabo brought a good low save from Grays keeper, Mackenzie Drew. But it was soon all square when Soumen Nandi showed great strength in the penalty area forcing his way through the defence and getting his shot away past Drew to make it 1-1.

The home side were certainly seeing more of the ball but the Grays defence held firm. Ainsley Frempong fouled former Blue, Prince Sikiru on the right edge of the box and Jack Chawner’s free kick found Nandi again but this time Drew made the save.

Redbridge’s fast play was always a danger, but too often the front line strayed offside, as Blues’ back line held their discipline. But just before the half time break, Solomon Ogonwomoju broke through and with the ball bouncing round in the box Prince Sikiru was on hand to fire the ball into the net to take the lead 2-1. But unfortunately, he injured himself in the process.

Half time : Redbridge 2 v 1 Grays Athletic

Grays started the second half firmly on the front foot and soon the scores were level again. Freddie Price found a great cross from the right edge of the box and Oscar Shelvey-Negus stole in at the far post and he finished from close range to make it 2-2.

Redbridge piled on the pressure looking to regain the advantage. Chawner played a pinpoint through ball to find Wabo who couldn’t beat Drew and then Macauley Joynes was on hand to clear sub George Cleveland’s shot off the line.

At the other end, debutant Michael Bareck and Freddie Price, in his second Blues outing, both had chances before Redbridge broke fast with a 4 on 3 attack only for Sid Walker to come to the rescue.

With time running out both sides went looking for the winner. Sub David Romer produced a great cross that bounced around the box but Grays couldn’t force the ball over the line. Another former Blue, Karl Kayembe then produced a fine curling shot that just went wide of the post. And then Sid Walker produced another great block to keep out Kayembe again. But neither side could break the deadlock, and so the dreaded penalty shootout came to pass.

And it was a quality shootout with both keepers largely helpless to do anything about a perfect 5-5 from the original nominees. And so to sudden death. 6-5,6-6 and then 7-6 before home keeper Jake Anderson kept out Sid Walker’s spotkick.

Blues new boys and youngsters all provided a valiant show against very good opposition and they can take a lot into the coming run of league games.

Final score : Redbridge 2 v 2 Grays Athletic (Redbridge won 7-6 on penalties)

Grays Ath : Drew, Frempong (46, Romer), Joynes, Walker, Jude, Turner, Bareck, Shelvey-Negus (80, Gordon, 88, Strugurian), Hope, Price (71, Gjonbala), Stone

Sub not used : Shrowder