Whilst this was a game that never really hit any fever pitch, the Grays Athletic faithful will care not one jot, as Blues backed up their win at the weekend with another three points against Essex rivals, Brightlingsea Regent, who might wonder how they left with no reward for their efforts.

For the first time since he took charge, manager Darren Manning was able to name the same starting XI as the previous outing. Grays started quite brightly, with Giani Ashley lively down the right hand side and after just six minutes, he created the first chance of the evening for Matas Skarna, who was enjoying his advanced role further up the pitch.

As the half progressed, the visitors came more into the game and started to dominate possession, but they struggled to make any meaningful inroads against a resolute Grays defensive line. Teddy Collis provided a telling cross into the box, but home keeper Anthony Page gathered the ball comfortably. And then Jayden Robinson hit a long range shot that Page deflected with an outstretched foot.

Just after the half hour, Aron Gordon went on one of his customary mazy runs and was only stopped by a fine tackle from centre-half Jake Thompson. Billy Crook and Gordon then combined to set up Malaki Toussaint, whose shot went just wide of the upright.

With five minutes to go to the break came the one moment of quality over the whole evening - and a goal worthy of winning any game, at any level. But the move started with a moment of comedy when visitors’ keeper Lewis Greene was bamboozled by a cruel bobble and spooned his clearance high into the Tilbury air. Grays recycled the ball a couple of times round the edge of the box before Aron Gordon put a pin-point cross onto the head of the diving Billy Crook, who glanced his header into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Brightlingsea looked to hit straight back and Page calmly tipped a long free kick from Collis over the bar.

Half time: Grays Athletic 1 v 0 Brightlingsea Regent

Brightlingsea came out after the break looking to get back on terms. And soon, half-time sub Bradley Russell, almost made an instant impact when his long shot came back off a post. But generally, the Blues defence was in a “they shall not pass” mood - and nothing portrayed that more than a Brighlingsea attack on the hour when Grays got bodies in the way to three strong shots from the visitors - none of which reached Page.

Blues best chance of the half came with fifteen minutes remaining when sub Aaron Clarke set up Elliott Sartorius, whose shot was spilled by Greene. Skarna won the chase to the loose ball but his pull back went across the face of the goal and wide of the far post.

In the last ten minutes, Brightlingsea contrived to be denied by the woodwork twice more from distance. Russell, for the second time, hit the corner of upright and crossbar and then Collis found the post. In between, Grays managed one breakaway from the pressure. Alejandro Machado, who had been a tower of strength at the back, led the charge, before Clarke found Skarna who couldn’t find the target.

So, a really valuable three points for Grays, and after the game manager, Darren Manning, was delighted with the character and effort shown by the team. Things are clearly starting to come together and the Blues move onto next weekend and the challenge of a visit to old rivals Heybridge Swifts.

Final score: Grays Athletic 1 v 0 Brightlingsea Regent

Grays Ath: Page, Ashley, Humphrey, Machado, Finneran, Millner, Skarna, Toussaint, Sartorius, Crook (Cosgrave, 83), Gordon (Clarke, 46)

Subs not used: Matyar, Perry, Stimson