Grays Athletic gave a brave performance against high-flying and big spending Maldon & Tiptree but eventually came undone thanks to two set-piece goals by the visitors. But this Blues squad have developed a resilience over the past few weeks and limited their promotion-chasing visitors to very few clear sights of goal, with Jordan Clark putting in a captain’s performance at the back to keep the Jammers largely at bay.

The first chance went to the visitors after ten minutes. From a corner, Anthony Wadsworth found space at the far post but somehow he contrived to bundle the ball wide of the post. The Jammers had much more of the ball, but Blues looked dangerous when going forward. Gabriel Chapps sent Ned Hepburn free but his cross was cut out before reaching the danger area. Caiden-Ellis Remi-Dee then put on the afterburners to run clear but again he couldn’t find a blue shirt in the box.

Maldon & Tiptree eventually broke the deadlock midway through the half. Grays failed to deal with a long free kick into the penalty area. The ball bounced around and fell to former league striker Freddie Sears, who finished smartly for a 1-0 lead.

The rest of the first period was relatively uneventful, with both keepers untroubled. Credit to Grays for keeping such a potent force at bay for long periods. But equally at the other end, the Jammers backline were superbly disciplined, with Tom Eastman dominating anything in the air.

Half time : Grays Athletic 0 v 1 Maldon & Tiptree

The second half was basically more of the same. Clear chances were at a premium but you always felt that the visitors had another gear if Blues threatened to get serious. Judah Tawiah had the home side’s first chance, trying his luck from distance that keeper Elliott Justham held comfortably. But he was much more agile keeping out a Harry Hope cross-shot that the keeper tipped over the bar.

Maldon then made the game as good as safe this time from a corner and it was the Jammer’s new signing and old Grays adversary Ross Wall who rose highest and planted his header in the net to make it 2-0. And the Jammers should have been further ahead when Wadsworth put the ball over the bar from close range. Terell Egbri was also causing real concern out wide right but he just couldn’t find the crucial final ball.

To their credit, Grays never gave up and forced Justham into a second fine save when sub Sam Wade crept in at the back post from a Hepburn cross and somehow the keeper made ground to keep the ball out.

Then deep into injury time, Blues young recruit Ethan Cann, put his body on the line to block a shot from Tevan Allen.

Grays can be proud of the effort they put in but with further injuries to Aron Gordon, Harry Hope and Judah Tawiah, all eyes turn to key games ahead in the next couple of weeks that will define the season.

Final score : Grays Athletic 0 v 2 Maldon & Tiptree

Grays Ath : Marsh, Tawiah (72, Jude), Norton, Paxman (55, Hope, 77, Cann), Clark, Martin, Hepburn, Shelvey, Remi-Dee, Chapps, Gordon (63, Wade)