Grays and Cambridge City shared the points on Wednesday evening in a tightly-fought encounter that swung too-and-fro over the 90 minutes. Neither side was able to gain the upper hand and at the final whistle, a draw was probably the fairest outcome. Both sides might probably have thought they could have won the game, but neither really deserved to lose.

Cambridge had the first chance of the game in the opening couple of minutes but the well-travelled and former Blue, Jamie Dicks, fired high and wide. Blues then started a period of dominance with Macca Joynes seeing a lot of the ball down the left and starting to wind up the long throws. And it was from one of these that Blues made the breakthrough. Joynes launched the ball into the box and after a period of head tennis, Oscar Shelvey-Negus received a nasty boot to the head from Solomon Ofori inside the box, giving referee Mr Rowling no option but to award the spot kick which Harry Hope converted comfortably. Shelvey-Negus’s bravery though cost him a trip to A&E for a check-up

Blues piled on the pressure and there was a loud appeal for another penalty for handball soon after following good work by Aron Gordon and Harry Hope, who were combining well up front. But this time, the referee waved play on. Gordon then found himself free of the defence and he was only stopped by a great save by Bobby Mason, in the visitors’ goal.

Cambridge then started to come into the game. Samrai Gebrai was brought down on the edge of the box but the free kick came to nothing and then Ofori was only kept out by some determined blocking by the Blues defence. For Grays, a Joynes corner was well met by the head of Lewis Clerk at the far post but he couldn’t hit the target.

Late in the half, Ofori thought he had scored but the referee rightly adjudged that he had kicked the ball out of George Marsh’s hands. And there was still time for Sid Walker to set up Alfie Wellens who shot fiercely from outside the area but just wide.

Half time : Grays Athletic 1 v 0 Cambridge City

The visitors came out after the break looking to build on their late first half possession. And it paid off, although there was more than a touch of controversy about the equaliser. Joe Paxman and Jamie Dicks clashed heads nastily in midfield, both requiring the attention of the trainer. Dicks was soon patched up but whilst Paxman was still off the pitch having blood wiped away, the referee re-started the game with Blues down to ten men. The ball was driven into the Grays area and eventually fell to Solomon Ofori, who finished past Marsh to make it 1-1.

Blues tried their best to regain the lead but were unable to carve out a clear chance. Tyler Brampton found himself in the box but couldn’t finish and Aron Gordon shot just wide after a typical mazy run. Jayden Silcott-Brown, off the bench, also tried the trickery but too often found himself shut out by a determined Cambridge defence.

At the other end, George Smith was pulling the strings but couldn’t find a way through the Grays back line and, in fairness, neither keeper was really troubled.

So the points were shared, which probably suited neither side. But it extends Blues unbeaten run in all competitions to five games and with the league so tight, both sides will be looking to go up the table in the coming weeks.

For Blues, Saturday coming sees a return to cup action and a visit to Hanwell Town in the final qualifying round of the FA Trophy. It could be a memorable occasion.

Final score : Grays Athletic 1 v 1 Cambridge City

Grays Ath : Marsh, Brampton, Joynes, Turner (62, Silcott-Brown), L.Clark, Jude, Walker, Wellens, Hope, Shelvey-Negus (15, Paxman), Gordon (80, Fitzer)

Subs not used : Norton, Drew