Battling Blues get back on track
Writes StewieG
Victory secured in proper “Game of two halves”

After the debacle of Saturday’s FA Cup exit, Grays fans were looking for a positive response from the squad on their first ever trip to Isthmian League newcomers, New Salamis, who themselves were on the back of heavy reverse last weekend.
From the first whistle, New Salamis set out to play a fast tempo game, running from deep and getting the ball quickly up front to feet. And to their credit, Blues responded well to the challenge, although the early exchanges were frenetic. But it was Grays who made the breakthrough on 8 minutes, Aron Gordon found Macaulay Joynes on the overlap down the left wing and his delicious cross was met with a firm header by Anointed Chukwu for a 1-0 lead.
And the same player should have doubled the lead soon after when he was found with a fine ball over the top by Sam Bantick, but he couldn’t finish. Already the game was becoming stretched. The experienced home centre forward, Derek Asamoah, was tormenting the Grays central defence, with Joynes clearing one effort off the line, whilst at the other end, Blues flying winger Josh Osude made a number of fine runs, but without an end product.
The final fifteen minutes of the half were barely believable and hard to keep track of. Firstly, on 31 minutes, Blues got their second thanks to quick thinking by Mitch Hahn, who threw the ball to Callum Watts and his cross into the box found Osude, who scored what for him was a rare bullet header that found the net via crossbar and keeper.
But New Salamis replied almost immediately. The ball was worked out to the right wing and the cross was slid past Danny Sambridge in the Grays goal, originally credited to Albert Adu-Doniyah but later given as an own goal by George Winn.
Callum Watts then let fly from distance from a Chukwu knockdown. Players, and spectators alike stood and watched as the ball just evaded the goal. It was though soon 3-1 to Grays, just before the break, when another great run from Osude found Bantick who had got in behind the line and he finished smartly.
Again though New Salamis refused to be bowed . Asamoah made a great run from deep straight through the middle of the Grays defence and he slotted home calmly to make to 2-3.
And still there was time for Osude to see another shot cannon back off the upright, with home keeper, Reuben Rabstein, helpless. When the brough the half to an end, everyone felt in need of time to gather breath.

Half time New Salamis 2 v 3 Grays Athletic

As is so often the case in games with a goal-packed first half, the second forty-five minutes is somewhat ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’. And so it proved. Neither side were able to keep up the fast and furious pace and things settled down to a calmer tempo. Grays were content to sit deeper than in the opening exchanges and prevented New Salamis from creating openings by tightening the lines. Half chances came and went for both sides but neither could carve out the clear sight of goal that would change the game. Asamoah and Harrison Georgiou both missed presentable chances for the home side, whilst late on, sub Ryan Melaugh could have finished the game but screwed his shot wide.
Grays though were able to run the clock down, emptying the bench late on and controlling the ball well under pressure, to secure a confidence-boosting three points. New Salamis have clearly adjusted quickly to life at this level and they will challenge many teams over the season with their free-flowing game.

Final Score: New Salamis 2 v 3 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Homans, Joynes, Watts, G.Winn, Okonkwo, Osude, Hahn, Chukwu (Oyenuga, 90), Bantick (Karby, 90), Gordon (Melaugh, 88)
Subs not used: Griek, Sobhir