This was a game played for long periods at a breakneck speed, especially in the first half, with end-to-end action and plenty of goalmouth action. As in previous games this season, Blues had more than enough chances to take all three points. But the match was decided by a single, dreadful piece of decision-making from one of the linesman who failed to raise his flag for a series of clear offsides in a single move, allowing the home side to score the only goal of the game.

Blues opened the game firmly on the front foot and in the first twenty minutes, Denim Nnamudi created three fine opportunities. The first when set up by Rob Harvey brought a good save from Samuel Nwabuko and then a curling left foot shot hit the joint of post and crossbar. The third started with some great control by Sam Wade out wide left and he fed Nnamudi whose scuffed shot was pushed just wide - then from the resulting corner a quick one-two with Gael Kileba brought another curled cross from Nnamudi that evaded everyone and went just past the far post. It couldn’t have been closer.

In between, Bowers were attacking with speed but couldn’t break through the Blues defensive line. They had a string of chances around the half hour mark, Kojo Apenteng crossed but Manny Shana headed straight at Danny Sambridge; the same player then made space for himself but shot over before former Blue, Jayden Silcott-Brown also missed the target.

Silcott-Brown then went down in the penalty area but referee Mr Hall waved play on. The Bowers man clearly felt aggrieved, soon after squaring up to Jordan Clark and sparking an outbreak of handbags that was out of character with the game as a whole. Two yellow cards quelled the anger.

Half time : Bowers & Pitsea 0 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays were again quickly about their work after the break. Gael Kileba produced a beautiful cross that found Connor Hogan in space close to the goal but somehow Nwabuko managed to get in the way of his volley when a goal looked certain.

Not long after controversy struck. Bowers played the ball out wide to Finlay Dorrell who looked to be standing well off side and he then passed the ball forward to Kojo Apenteng who also appeared to be equally offside beyond the Grays defensive line. In that position, he couldn’t miss but the Grays players and bench were enraged that there was no flag for either man. Step 4 football gets step 4 officials.

Grays were then their own worst enemy when Tyler Brampton, already on a yellow card committed a clear foul on the edge of the Blues penalty area, giving Mr Hall little option but to produce the red card - making the visitors’ task even more difficult.

Blues made changes to try to change the game but Bowers were on top and looking more likely to extend their lead rather than concede an equaliser. That said, Danny Sambridge was only really troubled by a late shot from sub Chris Millar that he pushed onto the crossbar. As Grays pushed forward, Josh Colyer should also have done better with a chance deep into added time.

So a game that produced plenty of chances but which should by all rights have finished 0-0 ended in defeat for Blues and left the squad and supporters feeling a right royal sense of injustice. Hopefully over the season these things even out, if that is any compensation.

Final score : Bowers & Pitsea 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Sambridge, Brampton, Joynes, Moss, J.Clark, Hogan (90, Moncur), Harvey (87, Sammons), Muldoon, Wade, Nnamudi (75, Effah), Kileba

Subs not used : Drew, McClean