Grays Athletic travelled the short distance down the A13 to Basildon United looking to build on their first league win of the season a couple of days previously. However, they came up short and left empty-handed, despite dominating possession for much of the game.

For a large part of the afternoon, this game had 0-0 written all over it. The first half was a lifeless affair, played on a difficult, bumpy pitch that certainly didn’t help either side produce any attractive football. Too often, Grays seemed intent on playing the long ball out of defence, which the Basildon back line dealt with relatively comfortably. Indeed, neither goalkeeper was unduly worried by anything approaching a meaningful attack. Aron Gordon tried his luck from distance a couple of times to no avail, as did former Blue, Karl Kayembe, who was let in when Grays failed to clear the ball.

Sid Walker and George Craddock were industrious for Blues in midfield but the closest Grays got to a goal was a penalty shout just after the half hour mark, when Malaki Toussaint went down in the box, but referee Abdul Olol waved play on.

Basildon threatened mostly down the wings and propelled several long throws into the box that caused consternation but without end product.

Half time: Basildon United 0 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays started the second half in much better heart, knocking the ball round and looking to take command of the game. But any good work was undone just six minutes in. Michael Finneran and Danny Sambridge will be haunted by a short back pass and failure to deal with the situation, leaving Basildon’s Darren Esuka, only just off the bench, with the easiest task of putting the ball into an unguarded net for a 1-0 lead.

After that, Grays dominated possession but couldn’t find the quality necessary to equalise. Too many passes went astray and distribution from the back just wasn’t clean enough. And too often, Blues put the ball into the box but there was no-one on hand to apply a finish.

Grays almost drew level when Toussaint so nearly broke his goal drought - his volley from the edge of the box coming back off the upright with home keeper, George Marsh, motionless.

Manager, Darren Manning, rang the changes and those coming off the bench, Perry, Damrell, Remi and Sartorius definitely made a difference but not enough to get back on level terms.

So Grays were left to rue a performance that should have produced at least a point but possession alone is not enough to win games and more will be needed as the season progresses. But the games keep coming and there is the chance to atone on Friday evening when Redbridge visit the EMR stadium.

Final score: Basildon United 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Dariri, Humphrey (71, Sartorius), Walker, Finneran, Moss, Gordon (65,Remi), Toussaint, Hirst, Craddock (78, Perry), Unwin (78, Damrell)

Sub not used: Long