After the long trip to Norfolk, Blues failed to fire against a determined Downham, who are fighting for their lives to get out of the relegation places. Grays had plenty of possession but couldn’t find the breakthrough to dent their opponents enthusiasm.

Blues had their first chance in the very first minute, when debutant Ramiah Mills squared to Sam Wade but he couldn’t get the ball under control in time to get his shot away. Grays’s best work was coming down the left flank, where Ned Hepburn was giving home right back, Jake Miller, plenty to think about. One of his several balls into the box fell to Mills who connected sweetly with the ball but a Downham body blocked the way to goal.

For the first half hour, Grays were camped in the Downham half but they couldn’t find a way through. Hepburn’s great cross fell in the middle of a crowded penalty area with no Blue shirt on hand to put the chance away and then Gabriel Cripps tried his luck from distance but shot wide.

And then calamity for Grays. Completely against the run of play, a long Downham clearance down the pitch cleared the defensive line. George Marsh rushed out of his goal but didn’t arrive in time to make the clearance, injuring himself in the process. The ball rebounded to Harley Murkin who had the easiest job to put the ball into the unguarded net for a 1-0 lead.

Half time : Downham Town 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

The second half was barely a minute old when referee Aimee Kerr adjudged that Connor Martin had fouled Murkin in the penalty when jumping for the ball, and pointed to the spot. Everyone was stunned by the decision - there had been no appeal from Downham and Blues were looking to play on. Eoin McQuaid stepped up but Marsh atoned for his earlier error by keeping the spot kick out. Justice done.

That should have been a wake-up call for Grays but they seemed unable to raise their game despite continuing to have the majority of the ball. But Downham have had a couple of good home results recently and their performance was a resilient one and they proved a difficult nut to crack.

Ramiah Mills looked the most likely to get Grays back in the game. His long throw-ins are definitely an addition to Blues’ options. He volleyed over the bar and then hit another shot straight at home keeper, Charlie Congreve - before at the other end Marsh pulled off another good save from Jake Miller’s long-range effort.

Blues continued to press. A Sid Walker volley was deflected for a corner, Hepburn landed a cross on top of the net and another Mills effort grazed the crossbar. But Grays still had to be sharp in defence for when Downham did break downfield. And Jordan Clark and Oscar Shelvey produced a great double block to keep the home side at bay.

Grays continued pressure seemed sure to pay benefits and they thought they had equalised when Charlie Stimson, off the bench, headed in a Ned Hepburn corner. Blues were, though, aghast to see a linesman’s offside flag raised. The question was whether the ball had flicked off Gabriel Chapps on the line. It was a brave call by the official that the travelling faithful found hard to comprehend.

At the start of almost ten minutes of added time, Grays other debutant, Myles Anderson, who had a strong first performance alongside Jordan Clark, headed the ball across the penalty area and Mills had another attempt on goal which deflected neatly into the keeper’s hands.

So a disappointing afternoon for Blues. Despite dominating the game, they were unable to break the home side’s resolve and couldn’t find the moments of quality that win games like this. Once again, the officiating did Grays no favours but after the game, interim manager Paul Joynes gave an honest assessment of the performance which didn’t match the levels we have seen in recent games.

The chance to atone comes next Saturday away at Mildenhall.

Final score : Downham Town 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Marsh, Tawiah (89, Ogunrinde), Martin (54, Norton), Walker, Clark, Anderson, Hepburn, Shelvey, Mills (85, Remi-Dee), Wade (66, Stimson), Chapps

Sub not used : Paxman