Grays Ath 1 v 1 Heybridge Swifts

Grays entertained Heybridge Swifts on Saturday, with both sides looking to cement their position in the upper reaches of the league table. The visitors have been on fine form recently and this was always destined to be tight encounter.
Blues made a sluggish start to the game, failing to settle into any real pattern, with Heybridge having much of the early possession and looking to attack down both wings, playing some attractive football. But it wasn’t until the quarter hour mark that they had their first real sight of goal. A free-kick on the edge of the box for a foul by Rob Clark was driven in by Darren Phillips, saved low down by Danny Sambridge and cleared by Courteney Homans but the ball was worked back and crossed in by Rob Harvey, with Ross Wall rising unchallenged to head home for a 1-0 lead.
And Heybridge could have doubled their lead when Macaulay Joynes lost the ball, allowing former Blue, Kieron Jones, to get a shot away, that Sambridge saved comfortably. Harvey for the visitors also broke free but could only find the side netting.
Chances for Grays were few and far between, with Heybridge keeper, Callum Chafer, having a very quiet half. But just before the break, Lewis Clark and Callum Watts combined to win a corner. Debutant Alex Clark, swung the ball in, which Chafer could only parry out, Lewis Clark headed the ball across the area and George Winn was on hand to bury the ball into the net for the equaliser.

Half time: Grays Ath 1 v 1 Heybridge Swifts

As in previous recent matches, manager Lewis Dark’s half time team talk made a real difference to the Blues performance in the second 45 minutes, with a much more positive attitude and football played on the front foot. Callum Watts’ long run and shot was saved by Chafer and Rob Clark drove a free kick just wide.
The visitors’ tackling became increasingly rough as the half wore on and Phillips was extremely lucky to receive only a yellow card from referee, Mr Carter, for an awful, out-of-control, challenge on Malakai Toussaint, from which the Grays man was fortunate to escape serious injury.
Grays were then convinced they should have been awarded a penalty when Phillips handled the ball inside the box (as video evidence shows). But the free kick was given just outside the area and the chance came to nothing.
With ten minutes left, Watts and Sam Bantick broke away from a Heybridge attack and laid the ball into the path of Toussaint, who shot across the goal but just wide of the far post. And there was time late on for Bantick to create another chance, this time for Courteney Homans, who drove the ball over the crossbar.
A draw was a fair outcome for Heybridge’s dominance of the first half and Blues much better performance after the break. The point-a-piece keeps both sides in the hunt in the league and on this showing, both should retain an interest in promotion proceedings throughout the season.

Final score: Grays Ath 1 v 1 Heybridge Swifts
Grays Ath: Sambridge, Homans, Joynes, R.Clark (R.Winn, 77), L.Clark, G.Winn, A.Clark (Melaugh, 87), Toussaint, Chukwu (Allen, 84), Watts, Bantick
Subs not used: Okonkwo, Karby