Grays Athletic suffered their third defeat in a week, with another below-par performance away at Lowestoft. After a couple of fine results a fortnight ago, things have gone decidedly pear-shaped since last weekend’s visit of Newmarket.

First up though - having been very critical of the the men in black over my past couple of match reports - a nod of appreciation to referee Mr Harvey, who controlled the game with confidence and authority but without being over-officious or inconsistent. I never heard a word of criticism from anywhere on the terraces all afternoon.

At least the first half, up on the east coast showed promise of the football that Blues can play - they could easily have gone in at half time in the lead, passing the ball round confidently and playing with a relatively decent shape. It was though the Trawlerboys who had the first chance of the afternoon when Aaron Bullent found himself clean through after just three minutes. But he hesitated and keeper George Marsh was able to smother the shot.

Grays then started to have the majority of possession and there was one lovely quick move of the ball from Michael Bareck to Jack Stone who found debutant Sam Wade in acres of space but he could only steer the ball wide of the upright. Wade then turned provider, as he teed up Harry Hope but again the shot was just the wrong side of the woodwork. Football can be a game of fine margins.

As the half progressed Lowestoft came back into things and Ashton Blogg was unlucky when his sumptuous cross didn’t find a team mate in a crowded penalty area and Blues cleared the ball. Bullet then had his second chance of the afternoon, but Marsh brought out a straightforward save (and one for the cameras).

Half time : Lowestoft Town 0 v 0 Grays Athletic

As has been the case over the last couple of games, Grays’ second half performance was woeful. Distribution from the back was poor, with little running off the ball and way too many unforced errors. Why there was this lack of intensity is difficult to pinpoint.

Just four minutes into the half, Macca Joynes allowed Bullent to run past him into the penalty area and was then guilty of a clumsy challenge from behind, giving referee Mr Harvey little option but to award the penalty. Bullent himself got up and slotted the kick past Marsh for a 1-0 lead.

Grays tried to fight back quickly with a series of corners and free kick around the Lowestoft box but there was never an end product to worry the home keeper, Ben Self.

And it got worse for Blues just before the midpoint of the half when again Joynes was guilty, this time of not picking up William Unadike at the far post, who had the freedom of the park to pick his spot past Marsh and double Lowestoft’s lead.

One bright spot for Blues fans, was the return to action of Casey Nolan-Samuels after his long lay off with injury. And it was his header from a Callum Fitzer corner that was one of very few Grays attempts on target all afternoon.

The final ten minutes were not though pretty ones for visiting keeper George Marsh. Firstly he misjudged the bounce of a through ball, allowing Kyle Haylock to run past him but luckily for Blues, he somehow managed to miss the open target. But there was no reprieve when Marsh allowed Bullent through to give the Lowestoft man his second goal of the afternoon and seal the game 3-0.

Grays need to shake off this malaise quickly and find the rhythm that brought good recent wins over Bowers and Brantham. This Tuesday though sees Blues back in cup action with an Essex Senior Cup tie away at high-flying Hornchurch.

Final score : Lowestoft 3 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Marsh, Paxman (87, Hamilton), Joynes, Walker, Moss, Turner, Bareck, Hope (70, Nolan-Samuels), Fitzer, Wade (73, Hlukaku), Stone

Subs not used : Strugurean, Gjonbala