Blues return from Suffolk empty-handed

Grays Athletic travelled to Suffolk looking to build on some of their better recent form but came up against a very well organised Bury Town who deservedly took the three points on offer.

That said, the early exchanges were relatively even. Kian Connolly forced a corner for the Blues in the first minute whilst Bury quickly got into their slick passing game, with Ethan Mayhew and Tom Thulborn controlling the midfield.

On 15 minutes, Rob Clark and Connolly combined well to create an opening for Aron Gordon, but the home defence held firm conceding only a corner. But from the set piece, Alejandro Machedo lost the ball just outside the area and Bury broke quickly, over-running the Blues defence. Key striker, Cemal Ramadan, needs no second invitation in this situation and he ran through the thin Blue line and slotted home calmly for a 1-0 lead.

Grays thought they had equalised almost immediately when Charlie Stimson headed home a fine Billy Crook free kick. But a very debatable offside flag from the linesman chalked off the goal.

Then just after the half hour, weak defending from Grays left Luke Brown in far too much space and he netted for a 2-0 lead. Before the break, Thulborn and Brown again had further chances to extend the lead, but Danny Sambridge saved from the former and the latter blasted wide.

Half time: Bury Town 2 v 0 Grays Athletic

Omar Dacus, a half time substitute for Grays, made an early impression with a great run down the right flank and he fed Machado, whose shot was well blocked. Soon after though, Machado was caught in possession in midfield. The ball was fed through to Ramadan who again finished with aplomb, effectively killing the game at 3-0.

We were then reminded that it is panto season, when one of the assistant referees pulled up injured and despite treatment from the physio was unable to continue. An appeal went out to the crowd for anyone who was a qualified official and after a couple of minutes, a supporter leapt over the wall. A fifteen minute delay ensued whilst credentials were checked and suitable attire found for the valiant volunteer.

After the break, Bury seemed content to preserve what they had and continued to knock the ball round with confidence. But with a quarter of an hour left (on the original clock - in your writer’s opinion, another clear example of “just stop the watch” when there are long, unscheduled breaks in play) Rob Clark fed Kian Connolly running through and he helped the ball past the oncoming keeper for his first goal in a Blues shirt, reducing the deficit to 3-1.

That goal gave Grays just a chink of light that they might get something from the encounter. Aron Gordon, who had been expertly marked out of the game for long periods, found a new spring in his step and worked Charlie Beckwith in the Bury goal and Jack Humphrey shot wide after a great run by Jordan Peart. And in the 15th minute of added time, Dacus couldn’t believe that he hadn’t scored after a mix-up in the home defence, but somehow centre-back Josh Curry intervened to hook the ball off the line.

But in truth, it was all too little too late for Grays. In front of a bumper 800+ holiday crowd, Bury probably played some of the best football we have seen against us this season and deserved their victory, although again too often Blues were guilty of serving up gift-wrapped chances for their opponents.

The chance to make amends comes quickly, with Maldon & Tiptree visiting Chadfields on New Year’s Day.

Final score Bury Town 3 v 1 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Milner, Peart, Clark, Finneran, Humphrey, Gordon, Crook (Cosgrave, 82), Stimson (Dacus, 46), Machado, Connolly

Subs not used: Osei-Bobie, Olukolu, Matyar