Hard fought win sinks Yachtsmen
Writes StewieG
Blues take their chances and three points

Grays returned to league action on Wednesday night after a run of cup fixtures and came away with a 2-0 win against a determined Wroxham side who could have caused greater concern with more composure in front of goal.
There was little pattern to the early exchanges in the match. Anointed Chukwu had the first chance for Blues when he had a sight of goal after five minutes but hit the side netting. Soon after, the visitors Matt Hayden and Josh Hazel both passed up good chances. The Yachtsmen were settling better into the game and enjoyed long periods of possession but the Blues defence held tight against some well-drilled play. Hayden was guilty again of missing a great opportunity to open the scoring when shooting wide from inside the six-yard box.
It wasn’t until the final ten minutes of the half that Grays started to enjoy more of the game and put the visitors goal under more pressure. Mitch Hahn and Chukwu exchanged a series of passes but the centre-forward’s shot was blocked. On 40 minutes, Sam Bantick working the right wing, put in a teasing cross but keeper Sam Blair smothered the joint efforts of Chukwu and Aron Gordon. And just a minute later, an almost carbon copy move saw Bantick repeat the cross, this time putting the ball firmly on Chukwu’s head for a 1-0 lead.

Half time Grays Ath 1 v 0 Wroxham

Blues came out in the second half looking to build on their lead. The two Clarks, Lewis and Rob, Callum Watts and Mitch Hahn were all getting forward more and giving the visitors’ defence plenty to think about. George Winn put a fine cross into the box early in the half but Chukwu couldn’t bundle the ball into the net from close range.
The on 63 minutes, Grays keeper Danny Sambridge, sent a long free kick up to the edge of the Wroxham penalty area. This time, Chukwu turned provider winning the flick header, which fell to Sam Bantick unmarked, with time to loop his header over Blair for a 2-0 lead.
Try as they might, Wroxham could not get themselves on the score sheet. The industrious full back, Travis Dodsworth tried from long range but couldn’t beat Sambridge. The visitors also worked the ball well down both flanks and put several excellent crosses into the box – but there was never anyone in a position to provide the finish.
The only sour note of the evening was an unnecessary, agricultural challenge by Hayden on Lewis Clark. Many referees would have sent the player for an early bath but Mr Wilson administered only a yellow card and a long, stern lecture – certainly not his only decision across the 90 minutes that bemused spectators on both sides.
Bantick nearly extended the lead further with a piledriver of a shot, set up by Rob Clark, but keeper Blair was just able to palm the ball round the post.
A slew of substitutions helped Grays manage the game, but even late on visitors’ sub Ryan Hawkins put another presentable chance wide of the post.
So Grays held on for a 2-0 win but the visitors would have returned to Norfolk wondering how they had failed to register on the scoreboard.
Next up for Blues is the derby fixture at Chadfield against Tilbury, renewing one of the oldest rivalries in football.
Final score: Grays Ath 2 v 0 Wroxham

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Homans, Joynes, R.Clark, L.Clark, G.Winn, Gordon (Melaugh, 87), Watts, Chukwu (Oyenuga, 90), Hahn, Bantick (Osude, 84)
Subs not used: Griek, Karby