East Thurrock Utd 1 v 2 Grays Athletic

Some games of football require a team to roll their sleeves up and squeeze out a win. It might not have been pretty but Grays executed their plan to perfection in front of a bumper bank holiday crowd and took the points against a determined East Thurrock side, who came into the game on the back of a fine run themselves.
There was little in the early exchanges, with the home side pulling a couple of shots, from Tom Barton and ex-Blue Brian Moses, well wide and Blues looking to exploit space down the wings. Grays had their first real chance on 14 minutes when Rob Clark fired a shot from outside the box just over the crossbar. He tried again ten minutes later, but home custodian Montel Joseph saved comfortably. Callum Watts also let fly from distance and was only marginally off target.
The heavy pitch was making it difficult for either side to play any fast, free-flowing football, with a “safety first” approach being adopted all-round. But Grays broke the deadlock on 38 minutes with the best football of the half. Aron Gordon and Roman Campbell combined well down the left and the latter’s excellent cross found Sam Bantick sliding in at the far post for a 1-0 lead.
Gordon then muscled through a crowd of players and only a fine challenge by Ryan Boswell prevented the Grays winger from pulling the trigger.

Half time: East Thurrock Utd 0 v 1 Grays Athletic

Having conceded the lead, it was up to East Thurrock to take the fight to the Blues. But Grays now have a much more determined look about them than just a few weeks ago and are not easily shaken. The back four of Courtney Homans, George Winn, Lewis Clark and Callum Leahy look a tight unit, with the two centre halves again offering little to the opposition. Mitch Hahn is also on a fine run of form, commanding much of the space in midfield and bringing others into the game with intelligent passing.
For much of the second half, there was little action of note, with Blues content to hold the home side at bay whilst still looking to use space out wide. The only alarm came on 70 minutes, when Lewis Clark underhit a back pass allowing sub, Jordon Peart, to run in on goal but his shot was a wild one.
As in his debut on Boxing Day, Roman Campbell showed what an asset he can be for Blues up front, fighting for headers, chasing down seemingly lost causes and linking play intelligently. He could quickly become a fans’ favourite.
Five minutes before the end, East Thurrock were almost the architects of their own demise when Sam Carter fired a defensive bullet header just wide of his own goal, with keeper Joseph stranded. But Blues were not to be denied. A Ronnie Winn free kick from wide on the right was met by the head of sub, Chayce Grant and the ball somehow squirmed through the keeper and into the net, for Grant’s second goal in two games and a 2-0 lead, which effectively put the game to bed. And he could have made it three just moments later but shot tamely.
Inexplicably, referee Mr Roque found an extraordinary amount of added time and the home side threw caution to the wind. Six minutes into injury time, Jordon Peart pulled one back for East Thurrock when allowed far too much space in the area. And there was still time for a last-ditch Courtney Homans clearance before the referee finally drew matters to a close.

So, an excellent three points for Grays, gained through a thoroughly professional performance which allowed East Thurrock few chances across the 90 (or even 98) minutes – and continues the Blues push back towards the play-off places.

Final score: East Thurrock Utd 1 v 2 Grays Athletic
Grays Ath: Sambridge, Homans, G.Winn, L.Clark, Leahy, R.Clark, Gordon (Joynes, 90), Watts (R.Winn 55), Bantick (Grant, 84), Hahn, Campbell
Subs not used: Griek, Okonkwo