Cambridge City were always going to win a game at some point at their new stadium. Having lost their first three fixtures there, it was inevitable perhaps for the longer-standing Grays Ath fans that it was always going to be us who were the fall guys ! But in truth, Blues only had themselves to blame for not bringing the points back down the M11.

In these kinds of games, the first goal is always going to be vital and Cambridge City started the contest much the better, with Grays firmly on the back foot. The home side had already created a couple of half chances before they opened the scoring in just the 9th minute. A City corner was only partly cleared by the Grays defence and when the ball came back in, George Smith rose highest and unmarked to head home for a 1-0 lead.

Grays slowly got themselves going, especially down the right where Samir Ali produced Blues’ best work. More than once in the first half, he put dangerous crosses into the six yard box but too often, Grays were guilty of not getting their forwards into the mix, to apply the finishing touch. And following a corner from the other side, Elliott Sartorius delivered a fine ball across the box and Michael Finneran slid in at the far post but couldn’t find a finish. Tyler Brampton then took a turn sending in a dipping cross that keeper, James Philp, had to touch over the bar.

And Grays were made to pay for their profligacy, when Cambridge threw a long free kick into the penalty area. Again, Blues failed to clear properly and the ball fell to Alex Warman, who finished smartly to extend the lead to 2-0.

As the half drew to a close, Kenedi Dariri went on a lung-busting run downfield that produced yet another corner but again Grays couldn’t profit. And then came the worst miss when Luke Hirst found the ball at his feet no more than a yard or two out but somehow he was able to do no more than stab his attempt into a Cambridge defender. The officials ruled that the ball had not crossed the line and the chance was gone.

Half time : Cambridge City 2 v 0 Grays Athletic

Early in the second half, manager, Darren Manning, shuffled his pack, moving Dariri into a more midfield position and giving the side a better balanced look. And it paid dividends when Brampton crossed from the right, Philp flapped at the ball and Alejandro Machado was on hand to head home from close range, to halve the deficit.

Blues continued to have the majority of the possession but when they attacked, Cambridge were quicker and neater with the ball, although Danny Sambridge remained largely untroubled in the Grays goal.

Samir Ali and Luke Hirst both had half chances and there were also several shots from long range that went well high and wide.

Then, as the clock approached 90 minutes, Hirst combined well with sub Louie Remi whose run into the box was stopped by a late challenge from Jayden Gipson and referee Mr Cunningham had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Up stepped man-of-the-season Alejandro Machado and although he struck the ball well, Philp pulled off a fine save low to his left to preserve his side’s lead and put the lid on a Grays performance that probably deserved some return - but the finishing, all round, has to be more clinical, if they are to win games like this.

Darren Manning was rightly pleased with the overall performance but knows that his side need to maintain a higher level of performance if they are to retain their place amongst the top runners in the division.

Final score : Cambridge City 2 v 1 Grays Athletic

Grays Athletic : Sambridge, Brampton, Moss, Machado, Finneran, Dariri, Gordon (71, Remi), Sartorius (81, Gould), Hirst, Craddock (51, Skarna), Ali

Subs not used : Henry-Rose, Carlos