Grays Ath bowed out of the BBC Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday evening against high-flying Hornchurch, who showed their class in front of goal to secure their place in the quarter final. Blues were always facing an uphill battle against an opponent at the top of their division, two steps higher in the pyramid, with the task made even harder by a significant number of cup-tied players to add to the on-going long-term injury list.

Hornchurch started the game on the front foot, with left winger, Myles Weston, especially prominent. And only a fine block from Tyler Brampton (who had a good evening) prevented him opening the scoring early on.

Casey Nolan-Samuels, making his first start since early September was running well with the ball and set up Michael Bareck who forced Grays’ first corner of the evening, before at the other end, Charlie Ruff should have done better when free in the penalty area. But he shot straight at George Marsh.

The deadlock was broken after 25 minutes when Ruff found Weston in space and he finished comfortably past Marsh for a 1-0 lead. And Weston should have doubled the advantage but he headed George Wind’s cross wide of the post.

However, as the half went on, Grays came more into the game, pushing more men forward and running at the Hornchurch defence. It was though a mark of the home side’s quality in the way that their players read the game, snuffing out chances when they came. But with ten minutes left on the watch, keeper Rhys Byrne was called into serious action twice, firstly from a Sam Wade attempt and then, following a Nolan-Samuels long throw, a save from an athletic shot by Kye Jude.

Half time : Hornchurch 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

Unfortunately, any hopes that Grays built up at the end of the first half were quickly extinguished after the break. Within five minutes, the home side had the game wrapped up. Firstly, a Hornchurch corner was only cleared to Charlie Ruff, on the edge of the area and he fired home from distance. And then fortune favoured the brave when a long shot from Charlee Adams came back off the post and rebounded off the back of Grays keeper, George Marsh and into the net, to make it 3-0 and effectively game over.

To their credit though, Grays didn’t let their heads drop and created several chances that sadly they couldn’t convert. Michael Bareck showed some lovely footwork inside the box but couldn’t get a shot away and Sam Wade should have done better with a chance when presented with the ball by the home defence. And Blues knew their luck wasn’t in when Nolan-Samuels made great strides from midfield, finding Wade, who created space for himself and shot past Byrne, only to see the ball come back off the inside of the far post.

Hornchurch capped off their performance when sub Henry Sandat produced a lovely reverse pass, straight into the path of Darren McQueen, who fired past Marsh to complete the scoring at 4-0.

Given their depleted resources, Grays can be proud of their performance of the night. But Hornchurch aren’t top of National League South for no reason. But their quick passing and clinical finishing in front of goal was the clear difference. And we wish them well in the next round.

Final score : Hornchurch 4 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Marsh, Brampton, Paxman, Hamilton (46, Joynes), Jude, Walker, Wade, Shelvey-Negus, Fitzer, Bareck, Nolan-Samuels (78, Turner)