Grays Athletic continued their advance in this season’s FA Cup with a deserved victory against Essex Senior League opponents, Hutton FC. Although they were much the better side over the 90 minutes, they made it hard for themselves and should have had the game wrapped up well before the final whistle. But all credit to Hutton for fighting to the very end.

The home side came out of the traps, as expected and challenged Blues all over the pitch. But it was Grays that had the first chance of the game after ten minutes when Ned Hepburn crossed but Gael Kileba could only head over as the ball came quickly to him. At the other end, Luca Savill tried his luck but to no avail.

Then the game’s moment of controversy. Kileba weaved his way to the edge of the penalty area by the goal line. He was upended in a crowd of defenders and the referee pointed to the spot. But Blues joy was short lived as the linesman indicated to the ref that the ball had gone out of play. Grays fans, at that end, were convinced that the ball had stayed in play but admitted that the foul was probably outside the area. So who knows !

But soon after Grays broke the deadlock. Connor Hogan won the ball in midfield and fed Kileba down the right wing. His quick cross evaded the home defence and there was Hepburn free to stab the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

Hutton continued trying to press forward playing some tidy football but perhaps lacking the quality to break down a tight Grays defence led by the returning Lewis Clark, with Alex Moss in close attendance. Savill tried again from far out but it was never likely to trouble the scorers.

Just before the break, Kileba again broke free and drove into the box and his shot brought a fine save from Stefan Lamacq, to keep the score at 1-0.

Half time : Hutton 0 v 1 Grays Athletic

Blues came out with much more purpose in the second half and over the 45 minutes created a host of chances - which is a real positive for the future. They just need to be a bit more clinical to put games to bed.

Kileba’s great run and cross fell cruelly between Hepburn and Gabriel Chapps before the latter chased down a long ball but his ball into the box was intercepted by Lamacq. Hepburn then found Ollie Muldoon who put the chance wide. But he was soon on the scoreboard when Chapps again drove into into the box and squared for Muldoon who finished smartly to make it 2-0.

Grays were now controlling possession, especially through Freddie Moncur in midfield, who was pulling the strings, distributing the ball well and setting up waves of attack. Chapps rolled the ball just the wrong side of a post from Kileba’s cross before bringing a fine save from Lamacq from another chance. Rob Harvey, off the bench, then so nearly got on the end of a great long through ball from Tyler Brampton.

It looked only a matter of time before Blues extended their lead but they just couldn’t force the ball home. Hepburn’s curling shot was well saved again by Lamacq and a corner came all the way across to Harvey who volleyed the ball back across the box, missing everyone. Denzil Effah, on for Ned Hepburn, went on a couple of long mazy runs but the home defence were fighting for their lives.

With time running out, Hutton threw everything forward as Grays dropped deeper to protect their lead and the visitors were forced into their first period of pressured defending. Lewis Clark put himself on the line from a shot that came from a mass of bodies in the box. Then with the clock well into injury time, Andrei Cocan shot through a crowded area from the edge of the penalty area and found the bottom corner of the net to pull one back to 2-1.

It was though too late for the home side to set up a grandstand finish. But there was still time for one final attack during which former Blue, Callum Leahy went down very awkwardly and had to be stretchered off. We wish him well.

So, it’s Grays that go into the hat for Monday’s First Qualifying Round draw, when the 88 clubs from step 3 join all the winners from the Preliminary Round. Fingers crossed for a good draw and a chance of further progress in this great competition.

Final score : Hutton 1 v 2 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Sambridge, Brampton, Joynes, Moss, L.Clark, Hogan, Hepburn (81, Effah), Muldoon (75, Wade), Chapps, Moncur (90, Morritt), Kileba (65, Harvey)

Subs not used : Norton, Jude, Drew