For me, this game encapsulates Grays' whole season to date - hit the bar, two cleared off the line and their keeper pulls off a fantastic save in the final five minutes with George Marsh a spectator for 90 minutes - but undone by one sucker punch midway through the first half. This isn’t sour grapes, it’s a genuine summary of the game. You just think that our luck has to turn at some point.

Overall, this El Chavico was a game of few chances and a lot of huffing and puffing but short on quality. Blues through started brightly and Gabriel Chapps had a chance in the first thirty seconds, but blazed over.

Tilbury were forced into an early change when Dan Trendell picked up an injury stretching for the ball. And as these things happen, the substitution worked wonders for the Dockers. From Grays own thrown-in deep in opposition territory, Tilbury broke quickly with Tyler Forbes down the right. He squared the ball and found sub Issa Sidibe who swept the ball home for a 1-0 lead. Dockers pushed to increase their advantage but the Grays back line held firm, with Jordan Clark playing a captain’s innings at the back.

On the half hour, Manny Ogunrinde chased down a lost cause out wide right but won the ball and crossed, only for Caiden-Ellis Remy-Dee to produce a complete air shot. The next Blues attack turned into a prolonged game of head tennis, as Tilbury failed to clear their line, but Grays couldn’t fashion a clear chance until Ned Hepburn returned the ball into the danger area, fallingl to Chapps whose close-range shot was very well saved by Billy Lawlor in the home goal.

Half-time : Tilbury 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

The second half produced more pressure from Grays but still the vital goal eluded them. Ogunrinde’s run won a corner that Hepburn dropped into the box, the ball eventually falling to Jordan Clark whose acrobatic attempt bounced down off the crossbar but not over the line. Sid Walker and Gabriel Chapps then fed the ball to Ogunrinde who twisted and turned inside the box but could only shoot just wide.

At the other end, Tilbury’s only real chance of the half came from a nice move down the right hand side, with the opening falling to Kieran Jones but he shot wildly.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Kye Jude almost brought things level when he rose highest to meet a Sid Walker cross but he headed straight into the arms of Lawlor.

Blues ramped things up in the final ten minutes, even bringing Mitch Hahn on for a late cameo performance and he nearly made the difference when Tilbury failed to deal with his chip into the box. The ball fell to Guy Norton, fifteen yards out and he fired through a crowd of players and only a fine diving stop from Lawlor prevented the equaliser.

Speaking after the game, manager Paul Joynes couldn’t fault his side’s effort, especially in the second half but somehow the ball just would not cross the line. With results elsewhere helping Blues out, next Saturday’s game against Concord Rangers takes on even greater significance but the chance for another three points.

The final word is one of thanks to Oscar Shelvey, for whom this was his last game before moving to Australia. His whole-hearted play and commitment to the cause has made him a firm fans’ favourite over the season.

Final score : Tilbury 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Marsh, Tawiah (46, Brampton), Martin, Walker, Clark, Jude (86, Norton), Hepburn (75, Wade), Shelvey, Chapps (90, Hahn), Remy-Dee (46, Stimson), Ogunrinde