There are many ways to win a game of football. But perhaps the least heralded is the the defensive masterclass that shuts out the opposition and preserves the clean sheet. Felixstowe & Walton came the EMR stadium on Saturday as the division’s second highest scorers, averaging more than two goals a game, failing to score in only three previous league encounters this season. However, this Grays side is on a fine run of form, taking each match in its stride. The back line of Kenedi Dariri, Matas Skarna, Alex Moss and Kye Jude (with Michael Finneran a half time sub for the latter) produced an excellent collective performance, ably supported by a combative midfield, to shut out the Seasiders and record the Blues incredible eighth consecutive victory. Only Macclesfield - runaway champions of the Northern Premier League - can boast better current form across the entire pyramid !

The early exchanges of the game were rather scrappy, as both sides struggled to come to terms with the hard, bouncy pitch. Danny Nash and his team at Tilbury have performed miracles to keep a difficult pitch playable for most of the season but sometimes the weather wins out and the long dry spell has made the job a real challenge.

Not surprisinglyh therefore, the first real chance came when Hugh Cullum, in the visitors’ defence, misjudged the bounce of the ball and Sam Bantick pounced but put his shot just wide. Felixstowe though started to master the conditions and created a chance for old Grays foe, Joshua Hitter, but his attempt was wild.

The game’s key moment came on 27 minutes. Against the run of play, Aron Gordon sprayed a pinpoint long crossfield pass to Louie Remi. He brought the ball down skillfully, jinked past full back Thomas Warren and shot past keeper Harry Wright for a 1-0 lead.

The goal seemed to inspire Grays and deflate Felixstowe. Matas Skarna advanced down the left but shot the wrong side of the post - before Sid Walker and Louie Remi played a lovely one-two, with Walker forcing Wright into a good save.

From the resulting corner Kye Jude was unceremoniously hauled down in the box but somehow referee, Mr Wyatt, saw no foul and waved play on.

Felixstowe’s best chance of the game came just before the break when a corner caused alarm in the Grays box. The ball fell to Toby Stevenson but his close-range shot was held on the line by Danny Sambridge.

Half time : Grays Athletic 1 v 0 Felixstowe & Walton

The second half was delayed due to an injury to the referee, requiring a reserve official to be found - and thanks to the replacement linesman who came to the ground to ensure the game could be completed. As a result, it took both teams a while to get back into their stride once matters finally got going again.

It took almost twenty minutes for a chance to materialise, when Sam Bantick produced an inswinging corner that Oliver Caley Brown cleared off the line before Louie Remi forced another good fingertip save from Wright.

Stevenson then had another chance to equalise and should have done better with his header. Louie Remi could have extended the lead when he broke from inside his own half but Jack Ainsley got back to block the chance.

Felixstowe were becoming increasingly frustrated, being unable to breakdown the Blues defensive line - seeing the points they need to secure a better playoff place slipping away for another week. A wave of changes off the Seasiders’ bench failed to produce the desired effect with Grays unwilling to give up their precious lead. And when the did create space, Danny Sambridge was alert to the danger.

Indeed, in the final minutes of the game, it was the visitors’ keeper who was much the busier, firstly making a fine save with his feet when faced one-on-one with Shane Temple and then, in added time, parrying out an Elliott Sartorius rocket shot before recovering to tip the ball over the bar after a defensive mix-up from the rebound.

This was then a fine win for Grays against a very good Felixstowe & Walton side who will take their place in the end-of-season playoffs but hoping to up their form before the knock-out games begin. The whole Blues squad is playing at the top of its form and pulling together superbly. Can they keep the run going for three more games and hopefully into next season ? With confidence sky high, there is no reason to think not.

Final score : Grays Athletic 1 v 0 Felixstowe & Walton

Grays Ath : Sambridge, Dariri, Skarna, Machado, Moss, Jude (46, Finneran), Gordon (61, Temple), Walker, Bantick (85, Hope), Sartorius, Remi

Subs not used : Brampton, Hirst