Grays produced arguably their most complete performance of the season in dispatching a previously unbeaten Leiston with DD Dumaka again netting both goals.To a man they comprehensively outplayed a somewhat cynical home side and with a little more devilment in front of goal could have been two or three goals to the good.

From the kick off Leiston won a corner easily dealt with by the visitors.It was a cagey opening few minutes as both teams were content to size each other up but gradually the Blues began to seize the initiative quickly establishing their neat passing game.

Once again Luke Ifill and Bradley Tomlinson were combining well down the right flank as they exposed the defensive frailties of home fullback Dunbar

Dumaka was proving a real handful combining both strength and touch linking the play well allowing Grays midfield to come on to the ball.

Dumaka it was who put the visitors in front after seven minutes,running at the home defence he raced unchallenged to the edge of the box and unleashed a fierce drive beating Smith to his left to record his seventh goal of the season.

Blues were pushing Leiston back at every opportunity restricting them to the occasional long punt forward.The home side's first opportunity was squandered by Sands who fired high and wide following a corner.

Kenny Beaney and James Stevens ably supported by Nathan Ferguson were controlling the midfield not allowing Leiston to mount their own attacks as they looked to expose the cumbersome homesters back line,Jaoa Carlos and Tomlinson getting behind the last man at will.

Ifill did well making a clever interception running at Dunbar he turned inside and saw his shot fizz just wide

Stevens then played a great cross ball finding Jey Siva his floated cross found the head of Tomlinson who climbed above the Leiston back four only to see his glancing header fly just over.

Leiston won a free kick on the half way line resulting in a corner, the ball found Brothers who tested Lamar Johnson who saved comfortably.

The game was continually punctured with stoppages as the home side seemed to go down under the slightest contact much to the frustration of the Blues bench and not helped by once again some inconsistent officiating from Mr Sannerude.

The Blues pace was causing Leiston all kinds of problems as they broke quickly and Dumaka should have done better following neat interplay between Tomlinson and Beaney leaving the striker a clear sight of goal his shot lacked sufficient power Smith saving easily.

Stevens went close following a short corner seeing his curled shot just clear the bar as the visitors looked to increase their advantage.

The home side were restricted to the occasional break Johnson did well to cut out a searching cross quickly setting up a counterattack.

The only time Leiston looked threatening was from dead ball situations and it was from one of these they managed to get on the scoresheet.On forty three minutes they were awarded a debatable free kick wide on the Blues right ,Cunningham floated a deep kick finding the head of Bullard beating Johnson although he appeared to to foul Ifill in the process.

It was a cruel blow for the Blues who up until the goal were in complete control of the game making Leiston look a very ordinary team.

HT 1-1

Blues carried on where they had left off in the first half forcing a corner in the first minute,moments later Tomlinson and Ferguson combined well but Tomlinson's shot lacked the power to trouble Smith.

At the other end Leiston won a corner without an end result as the solid Blues back four dealt efficiently with the kick.

Blues were finding time and space seemingly at will as the expected Leiston pressure failed to materialise.Blues were playing some delightful possesion football,Ferguson and Tomlinson combined well again ,Tomlinson firing just off target.Dumaka was just wide with a snapshot as the visitors piled on the pressure .

Blues were indebted to Sean Cronin who made a goal line clearance following a rare Leiston attack with Johnson beaten.From the corner Gooch missed the target with his head.

Roman Michael-Percil replaced Tomlinson as Mark Bentley looked to Percils pace to unlock a stubborn home rearguard.Blues nearly increased their advantage when a great ball from Stevens found Carlos in on goal and he should have done better hitting the side netting with Smith beaten.

Percil was seeing a lot of the ball giving Dunbar a torrid time but Blues for all their possesion and territorial advantage that second goal was proving elusive as the final ball was not always forthcoming.

Leiston were only allowed the occasional forward foray from one such move Heath tested Johnson with a low shot which he dealt with comfortably.

Percil did well running at the Leiston back four he layed the ball into the path of Ferguson his shot looked bound for the back of the net but a deflection fell into the hands of the grateful Smith.

A Leiston free kick was won by Cronin and in another quick break Brothers cross sailed high and wide.

Lamar Reynolds replaced Carlos late on as the visitors continued to dominate play and it looked like the Blues were going to have to settle for a draw but they then won a corner on eighty nine minutes Siva floated the ball in, it was cleared and played out to Siva again who crossed and Dumaka glanced the ball home.
Blues withstood a late late Leiston rally Johnson saved well from Finch,and the back four did well to clear three corners in the dying moments to record a vital sixth win in eight outings.

On paper this was probably Blues toughest test to date but in truth they were always in control of this game never looking under pressure the only wonder is that they only came away with the two goals.

It is still very early days but Grays are looking a very good side with a solid back four,hard working midfield and up front strikers who possess the pace to upset any team,DD Dumaka has now added goals to his pace and control and at times looks unplayable.

It's been a tough start to the season and another test comes along on Tuesday when the Blues travel to Canvey for a third meeting of the season more of the same like today should seem them come away with a result but manager Bentley will ensure there is no complacency,Canvey having won their last three games.

Team Ratings

Johnson 7, Ifill 8, Siva 7, Leader 8, Cronin 7,Stevens 7,Beaney 7,Ferguson 8,Carlos 7,Tomlinson 7,Dumaka 9, Percil 7,Reynolds,6

To watch match highlights from Nonleaguetv go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrOE2ReaH_w&app=desktop