Wroxham 0 v Grays Athletic 2

Grays longest road trip of the season to Wroxham, on the Norfolk Broads resulted in a hard-fought victory with two very late goals, that secured the points, when a stalemate looked the likely outcome.
Blues started the game poorly and it was the home side that made the running, making good use of the wide, if bobbly, pitch. Wroxham’s first chance came after 10 minutes when winger Ryan Curtis got round Malachi Toussaint and forced a corner, which was planted on the head of the unmarked Jordan King, who’s effort went wide, with the goal at his mercy. Then five minutes later, Ryan Hawkins was gifted another golden opportunity by the Grays defence, but Callum Leahy was on the line to clear the ball. Wroxham were eventually to rue these misses.
Grays failed to create any sort of chance until the 20th minute, when Ronnie Winn bustled through the midfield and set up Damani Hunter, who blasted the ball high, wide and not very handsome. Blues were though starting to come to terms with the conditions. Jesse Olukolu out wide was seeing more of the ball and enjoying a tussle with left back, Travis Dodsworth. And on the half hour, his fine cross found Leahy in the box, who could only head straight at home keeper, Ollie Sutton.
Macauley Joynes then did well close down a fast break by the Yachtsmen before the half was brought to a close by long Mitch Hahn throw that fell to Roman Campbell, but he could only find the side netting.

Half time: Wroxham 0 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays came out for the second half looking more positive, with a clear plan to get their wide men, Olukolu and Hunter more into the game, in advanced positions. And the pair combined well on the hour mark, with Hunter forcing a good one-handed save from Sutton. Whilst Grays were pressing hard, Wroxham still looked dangerous on the break and Ryan Miles had two good chances in succession to get the ball into the Grays box. The second found Shaun Taylor but his finish didn’t trouble Danny Sambridge in the Blues goal.
For all Grays’ good approach play, they couldn’t carve out a clear chance, with Callum Watts, Olukolu and Campbell all failing to convert half chances. Miles was again the provider for Wroxham, with ten minutes remaining but Curtis headed straight at Sambridge, when a yard either side would have made all the difference.
The game then turned with 85 minutes on the clock. Aron Gordon, off the bench, chased a ball into the penalty area, and got in front of defender Robbie Linford, who clipped Gordon’s heals right by the deadball line. Referee, Mr Tyne, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. After some unwarranted gamesmanship from the home side, up stepped Sam Bantick to drill the ball low to the keeper’s right for a 1-0 lead.
Then deep into five minutes of injury time, home keeper Sutton did what so many do and went up into the Grays box for a last-ditch corner. Blues cleared the ball to Aron Gordon and he saw Damani Hunter sprinting down the left wing. Hunter took the pass in his stride and with Sutton still stranded upfield, slotted the ball calmly into the empty net for his first Grays goal and an unassailable 2-0 lead.
After Blues had survived the home side’s various chances, the travelling fans had settled for taking a point back home on the coach. None could though recall either the last time Grays had been awarded a penalty that late in a game or a goal with the opposition keeper absent from his post.
But the three points take the Blues back into the playoff places, with a tough midweek assignment at Basildon to come.
Final score: Wroxham 0 v 2 Grays Athletic
Grays Ath: Sambridge, Toussaint (Homans, 41), Joynes, R.Winn, Clark, Leahy, Watts (Bantick, 68), Hahn, Campbell, Olukolu (Gordon, 74), Hunter
Subs not used: Agyakwa, G.Winn