Grays Athletic produced probably their best performance of the season to see off a determined Witham Town and move towards a safer position in the league table. Witham played fast and strong football but Grays looked to match their opponents in every department and were well worth the three points.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with both sides looking to get the ball wide and use their pace down the wings. But it was Blues who broke the deadlock just before the quarter hour mark. Kien Connolly fed Charlie Stimson in the penalty area and in trying to turn, he was brought down and referee, Mr Wrey, had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick, which Connolly himself dispatched with aplomb.

Witham looked to get straight back but Luke Ige dragged his shot wide. Ex-Blue Josh Osude provided a real threat with his speed and several times, the home defence was called into action to prevent a clear chance opening up. On 20 minutes, tempers boiled over and too many players got involved in an outbreak of “handbags”. The situation took several minutes to calm down, at the end of which Mr Wrey decided one yellow card per side was sufficient punishment.

Osude was proving to be the biggest thorn in the Blues side and the recipient of the home fans’ attention. But he had the next laugh, when the patched-up Grays back line failed to clear the ball, and with keeper Danny Sambridge stranded, Osude had the easiest task of putting the ball into an unguarded net, bringing the scores level at 1-1

Just before the break, Grays thought they should have had another penalty when Connolly went down in the box under a challenge but the referee waved play on.

Half time: Grays Ath 1 v 1 Witham Town

Witham came out on the front foot for the second half. Ige put another chance wide and Deese Kasinga Madea put a free kick straight at Sambridge. Grays had to be on top of their game to keep the score level. But then midfield maestro Billy Crook produced a moment of magic. Picking the ball up 25 yards out, he slalomed through the visitors’ defence and slotted the ball past Harry McKie in the Witham goal to retake the lead for Blues, 2-1.

Stimson then nearly scored comedy goal of the season when a fierce clearance out of defence struck him on the back and rocketed back towards the Witham goal, but rolled agonisingly wide. Bobby Unwin, off the bench then rolled a shot across the six yard box but again the ball went the wrong side of the post. Fellow sub, Aron Gordon, then forced McKie into a save. Blues were by now well on top, having weathered Witham’s charge.

With ten minutes remaining, Giani Ashley produced a fine run down the wing and his cross found Stimson in the six yard box. Somehow, McKie stuck out a leg and the ball flew over the crossbar. But the Blues forward was not to be denied, when in the dying moments of the game, Unwin produced a fine free kick straight onto Stimson’s head and the game was safe at 3-1.

Blues fans were delighted at the character shown across the 90 minutes and the result repaid the effort. Manager, Darren Manning praised how his back five had stood strong, despite having played little football together. Grays will now be looking to build on this win at home again on Saturday to Wroxham.

Final score: Grays Athletic 3 v 1 Witham Town

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Ashley, Humphrey, Matyar (Gordon, 60), George, Gulliver, Toussaint, Crook, Stimson, Cosgrave (Unwin, 60), Connolly.