Grays maintained their poor early season home form with another defeat, this time to high-flying Felixstowe & Walton, with the three points taking them to the top of the table.

The whole game was a rather unnecessarily tetchy affair, with referee Mr Spencer not helping by setting the bar for a yellow card at a rather low level, resulting in a rash of bookings for both sides throughout the game, some of which were somewhat on the harsh side.

The first half was all rather fast and furious, where a little more composure by either side would surely have paid benefits. Grays showed some early promise, with Reuben Soares-Junior giving visitors’ left back Stuart Ainsely a torrid time down the right wing. But more than once the finish didn’t match the approach play. Aron Gordon also produced a fine cross that debutant Lian Boxhall couldn’t put away.

There was a touch of music hall farce on the quarter of an hour when Boxhall and Blues keeper Finlay Thackway failed to communicate over a long ball to the edge of the Grays penalty area. The result was a scrummage for the ball on the goal-line worthy of the Rugby World Cup final later in the day, with Thackway somehow extracting the ball from the pile of bodies, like an expert scrum-half, and the referee seemingly happy to let play continue.

As the half progressed, Felixstowe worked themselves more into the game. Jack Ainsley’s long effort was saved and Samuel Ford shot across the face of the goal. Blues were then lucky when Charlie Warren snuck in at the far post but couldn’t keep the ball down.

Shortly before the break, Charlie Stimson had Grays’ best chance of the game when he headed a fine Rob Clark cross over the bar. Hitting the target was really the minimum requirement.

Half time: Grays Athletic 0 v 0 Felixstowe & Walton

If Blues were content with their first half return, the Felixstowe manager, Stuart Boardley clearly wasn’t and he sent his team out after the break playing at a different tempo that Grays were unable to match. In the first attack of the half, Callum Harrison flicked a header just wide of the post, whilst at the back, the visitors’ defence snuffed out whatever Grays tried to create.

The deadlock was broken on 55 minutes, when Felixstowe pulled off a perfect dead ball routine, straight off the training ground. Zak Brown played a corner to the edge of the box to the unmarked Noel Aitkens, who swept the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

And it was 2-0 just a couple of minutes later, this time Brown himself getting on the scoresheet from the edge of the area. At that point, the crowd sensed the game was up, although Grays continued to press down the flanks, with Jesse Olukolu off the bench looking lively. But in reality, the Seasiders keeper, Callum Robinson, had precious little to do all afternoon.

The scoring was completed shortly before the final whistle when Joshua Hitter found himself in space near the penalty spot and he finished clinically for a 3-0 win.

On the second half performance, it was a result that Grays could have little complaint about, against a team that will surely be challenging for honours come the business end of the season.

FInal score: Grays Athletic 0 v 3 Felixstowe & Walton.

Grays Ath: Thackway, Millner, Peart, Clark (Bantick, 61), Finneran, Boxhall, Gordon, Osei-Bobie, Stimson, Soares-Junior (Olukolu, 62), Knight

Subs not used: Sambridge, Hatwell