Grays Athletic produced a memorable display, full of character and heroes, to gain a vital three points against a well-organised Wroxham. The victory was made all the sweeter by having to play the entire second half with just ten men. But as assistant manager, Mitch Hahn, said after the game, Blues continued to press forward despite being a man down, giving the visitors plenty to think about.

Wroxham made the early running but the Grays defence, with new recruit Ethan Cann, at the heart of the back line, were well organised. The visitors used the width well, with full backs Charlie Norman and Travis Dodsworth working the lines effectively but home full backs Judah Tawiah and Guy Norton were not to be outplayed. It took twenty minutes before George Marsh was troubled in the Grays goal when he readily held an Ethan Flack header.

Grays came into the game as the half progressed and twice Gabriel Chapps tried his luck from distance. He is also starting to develop a good understanding with Aron Gordon and the two combined to get the ball into the box but the chance was cleared by Jordan King.

Then just before the break, Cann, who had had a solid half in his first Grays outing dithered too long at the back. Flack nipped in but was pulled back by Cann just outside the area. It was though a goal-scoring opportunity and referee Mr Robertson-Tant had little option to show the red card. Dodsworth’s free kick came to nothing though but in the aftermath, Tawiah was poleaxed in the penalty area but the referee saw nothing - incensing the Grays player and crowd,adding to their list of injustices against the official.

Half-time : Grays Athletic 0 v 0 Wroxham

Wroxham sensed their chance, playing against ten men but this is a Grays side possessed of a new steel, led admirably by Jordan Clark. The visitors launched a series of long throws into the box but it was invariably a Blue head that got to the ball first. At the other end, it was a long clearance from Clark that Ned Hepburn chased down but Ryan John was on hand to block his run, only conceding a corner, as the Wroxham defence held firm. As the game wore on, Wroxham became increasingly anxious, shooting wildly on several occasions, when more composure might have troubled the Grays back line.

Gabriel Chapps then brought the save of the night from Tom Coomb, the Grays man latching fiercely onto the rebound from an Aron Gordon shot, but Coomb dived smartly to his left to deny him. With around ten minutes left on the clock, Sammy Johnson had two good chances for the visitors, firstly getting onto the end of a Joe Henman cross that he really should have put awayand then heading back across George Marsh in the Grays goal, who did well to palm the ball away for a corner.

Then came the decisive moment. Chapps played a measured through ball to Caiden-Ellis Remy-Dee, only just off the bench. He took the pass in his stride and lashed it past the helpless Coomb, to give Grays the lead and sending the terraces into a frenzy of delight.

The final few minutes seemed to take forever to tick away. Dodsworth had a chance to equalise on the break but he shot over the bar, leaving Grays to celebrate a fine win, banking three vital points in their quest to move away from the danger zone in the table.

Reflecting afterwards, manager Paul Joynes had nothing but praise for his side. Going down to ten men seemed to galvanise the Blues and with more performances like this, Grays will surely continue to increase their tally of points.

Saturday sees another home fixture, this time against table-topping Maldon & Tiptree - but with the confidence that this win will surely give the Blues, who knows whether an upset might be on the cards.

Final score : Grays Athletic 1 v 0 Wroxham

Grays Ath : Marsh, Tawiah, Norton, Paxman, Clark, Cann, Hepburn (90+, Jude), Shelvey, Chapps, Wade (65, Hope), Gordon (77, Remy-Dee)