After Tuesday’s impressive win away at Ipswich Wanderers, Grays Athletic find themselves taking another trip up the A12 this weekend, to visit league leaders Lowestoft Town.
The Trawlerboys have been pacesetters all season in Isthmian 1N and currently sit five points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand over their nearest rivals, Felixstowe & Walton. Performances this season have been impressive, with goals aplenty from a front line of Adam Hipperson, Jake Reed and Harvey Sayer. Three times this season, Lowestoft have hit their opposition for six, with other scorelines keeping the match reporters busy.
Our two sides met at Tilbury in late September, with the visitors taking home the points in a 3-2 victory, where the scoreline failed to reflect the Trawlerboys dominance of the game. The sides traded early penalties, but then only a late penalty from David Knight gave the result some sense of respectability for the Blues.
But it will be a much changed Grays Athletic that takes the field on Saturday, with only a handful of the September starting XI in contention for a place on the team sheet this weekend.
Blues will take some heart from the fact that in terms of recent form they are not that far behind the table toppers, the two teams currently sitting in neighbouring places in the form table. Three wins and three losses from their last six games have seen Lowestoft stutter from their early season runaway form. But they remain the team to beat in the division.
Last year’s visit to Crown Meadow was an interesting affair. Grays took the lead early in the second half through Sam Bantick, before the home side hit back with three goals to keep the points in Suffolk.
With Grays recent turn round in form, and Darren Manning’s squad bolstered by further new arrivals, this promises to be an entertaining encounter.
Come on you Blues !