Grays Athletic produced their most disappointing performance of the season so far at Concord Rangers on Saturday being outfought and outrun in almost every department. The whole game was very stop-start with niggly fouls, throw-ins aplenty and players rolling on the ground - none of which takes away from the thinness of Blues showing.

It could though have been so different when in just the fifth minute, when home keeper Jacob Marsden made a hash of a clearance. The ball rebounded from Callum Fitzer to Sam Bantick standing in the clear but he couldn’t take the chance. Concord certainly weren’t shy at putting a foot in, being much more committed than the Blues players - although Sam Brogan crossed the line with his challenge on Macca Joynes, for which he received the game’s first caution.

A quarter of an hour in, Grays actually went ahead with by far their best move of the afternoon. Callum Fitzer and Alfie Wellans worked the ball into the box and Oscar Shelvey-Negus’ attempt took a deflection on its way into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Blues could have been expected to go on from this but it was the home side that picked up the game from hereon. Joynes cleared a dangerous cross from man-of-the-match Bobby Kelman and the the much-travelled Ricky Modeste should have done better with a chance but shot straight at Grays keeper, George Marsh.

With the half winding down, a rare Blues attack ended with a Casey Nolan-Samuels shot that rebounded to Jayden Silcott-Brown but there was no Grays shirt on hand in the box to get on the end of his cross. But then, with minds on the half-time teas, Sid Walker’s clumsy challenge on Kelman gave referee Mr Yellan with no option to award Concord a penalty, which Kelman himself converted confidently to level the game at 1-1.

Half time : Concord Rangers 1 v 1 Grays Athletic

The second half started badly for Grays when Casey Nolan-Samuels was forced off the field with what looked like a nasty ankle twist - Blues’ injury list just gets longer. And things got worse when a Lewis Clark error at the back allowed Kelman an easy path to goal which he readily accepted to make it 2-1 to the home side.

Grays huffed and puffed but never really looked like putting the home goal under serious threat. Last weekend, there were shots aplenty from Blues but this time round there was simply nothing to note in the book.

Kelman almost had his hat-trick when Marsh fumbled his shot but recovered in time to prevent the Concord man getting to the loose ball. But with the clock past the 90 minute mark, Concord closed out the game when Marsh couldn’t hold Temitore Babilola’s shot and sub Kris Oti was on hand to apply the finish for a 3-1 scoreline.

After the game, manager Darren Manning couldn’t hide his disappointment at his side’s performance. Without mentioning names, he said he was looking for so much more from his players in terms of energy and commitment. The watching Blues fans could hardly disagree. But there is the quick chance to make amends with a midweek visit to Walthamstow before we're back in FA Trophy action next weekend.

Final score : Concord Rangers 3 v 1 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Marsh, Nolan-Samuels (51, Paxman), Joynes, Walker, L Clark, Turner, Fitzer, Shelvey-Negus, Bantick (63, Hirst), Wellans (63, J Clark), Silcott-Brown (81, Stewart)

Sub not used : Jude