Hashtag Utd 3 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays made the short trip down the A13 to Bowers & Pitsea, currently home of Hashtag Utd. But with Blues announcing their move to groundshare with Tilbury next season, who knows where everyone will be playing when the musical chairs music stops. Hashtag are currently on a fine run of form and Grays simply didn’t have the guile or firepower to prevent their onward march.
Blues did though start the game brightly and looked as if they might be able to dent the home side’s winning run. But their advantage soon dried up and Hashtag looked to mount their own challenge. In just the 9th minute, Lewis Clark was yellow carded for a challenge just outside the box on Toby Aromolaran, but the Grays wall did its job.
Despite the final scoreline, this was a game of relatively few clear chances. But more than once the Grays defence was guilty of going to sleep and allowing the home side’s wide players far too much time on the ball. Down the right, Percy Kiangebeni used his strength and pace and his precise 18th minute cross was met by the on-rushing Jermaine Francis, for a 1-0 lead to Hashtag.
Blues most likely outlet in the first half was Cheyce Grant but the home defence was up to the challenge. Lewis Clark then made amends with a fine block to deny Aromolaran. Callum Leahy also had a strong game at the back, clearing out most of the danger from the home attack.
Just after the half hour mark, Grays should have had a way back into the game, when Grant was clumsily felled inside the box by Eli Benoit, but referee Mr Collins waved play on. Indeed, he was to give the Blues little all afternoon, in a poor display.
Shortly before the break, Kiangebeni was again allowed too much space on his wing and this time Emmanuel Okunja was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range for Hashtag’s second.

Half time: Hashtag Utd 2 v 0 Grays Ath

The home side came out for the second half looking to kill the game off. Alex Teniola and Aromolaran both had chances but shot well off target. The fatal blow was not though far away. In the 63rd minute, Okunja was given too much space on the edge of the Blues’ box, and he had time to curl a shot inside the far post beyond the despairing dive of keeper Danny Sambridge, for a 3-0 lead.
Whilst the game may have been up, referee Mr Collins again did Grays no favours soon after. Okunja, having already been booked in the first half, went in on Courtney Homans high and late. Some days the challenge in itself would have been given as a red card offence. But Mr Collins chose only to administer a lecture. All that players and fans alike are after is consistency. Tellingly, the Hashtag bench immediately withdrew the player whilst they could.
Try as they might, Grays were unable to find a way through. In a final five minute flurry, Callum Watts crossed for Sam Bantick, but the ball just wouldn’t sit kindly for him. Courtney Homans unleashed a long range shot that home custodian James Philp fingertipped over the bar. And Callum Watts then saw an effort cleared off the line. But in all honesty, it was too little too late.
Whilst Hashtag themselves not created a hatful of chances, they took what they had tidily and saw out the game with some comfort. It was one of those days when Blues were off the pace and second best.
Final score: Hashtag Utd 3 v 0 Grays Athletic
Grays Ath: Sambridge, Homans, R.Clark (R.Winn, 46), L.Clark, Leahy, Toussaint, Bantick, Hahn (Watts, 64), Campbell, G.Winn, Grant (Gordon, 45)
Subs not used: Griek, Joynes