Grays travelled almost as far as you can in Essex without getting wet on Saturday, playing their first ever game against Little Oakley and despite an improved performance, were unable to take anything from the game.

There were five changes to the starting line up with Danny Sambridge, Sam Wade, Gabriel Chapps, Ollie Muldoon and Freddie Price returning.

The game was played in blustery conditions which took the teams a time to master. Tobias Braney had the first shot, turning smartly but firing straight at Danny Sambridge.
Then Grays got a measure of control, thanks largely to Sam Wade. On 13 minutes, he beat his man and pulled the ball back for Gabriel Chapps, who miskicked and the chance was gone.

However, this was followed 3 minutes later by the opening goal. Again Sam attacked Little Oakley's left back, Josh McFaull, who initially won the ball, but Sam blocked his clearance then clipped a teasing cross to the far post where Gabriel Chapps headed home past the home team's keeper, James Askew.

Grays continued to get some joy down the right with yet another Wade cross that only needed someone to gamble to make it into a huge chance. Then Chapps squeezed in a cross which Matt Price struck first time but was well blocked.

Little Oakley started to get a foothold in the game through set pieces. In their playmaker, the lanky Dylan Kettley-Gregan, they had a player who could launch throws into the box. Generally Grays defended these threats well, although Josh McFaull got a couple of shots away, both off target.

Then, in injury time came the first of two pivotal moments in the game, as a hopeful long ball saw a lack of communication between Danny Sambridge and Alex Moss, with Alex leaving the ball at the last moment and the advancing Danny spilling it into the path of Tobias Braney, who couldn't miss.

Half Time and 1-1.

Grays made a substitution at the start of the second half with Ryan Sammons replacing Lewis Clark. The Blues started well, with Matt Price getting in a shot from the left side of the box which was turned around the post by Askew.

Then the second pivotal moment and Grays best move of the match as Tyler Brampton found Gabriel Chapps who in turn played a good pass down the right for Sam Wade to run onto. Sam's first time cross was perfect, taking out defender and goalkeeper, giving Matt Price a chance he would take 99 times out of a 100, but this was the 100th and he was horrified to miss the target.

An ineffective Freddie Price was replaced by Gael Kileba and Blues man of the match, Sam Wade came off after a knock, being replaced by Denim Nnamudi. Brandon Adams got some more minutes in his recovery from injury, replacing the hard working Matt Price.

Little Oakley started to rely on set pieces, knowing they had a huge height advantage over Blues defence. With the referee punishing just about any challenge, they got plenty of opportunities to get the ball into the box. Another harsh looking free kick near the centre circle was lifted into the box by Luke Hipkin and the ball was not cleared, dropping in the box to Tobias Braney who slid the ball in under Sambridge for 2-1.

Although there were still 16 minutes to play, you could sense that goal would be decisive. Braney then had a direct free kick well saved by Sambridge, before being substituted. His workrate and eye for goal are hugely important for Little Oakley and were the difference today.

We also had a first as Little Oakley had a player booked for taking too long to leave the pitch when substituted. The assistant doing the timing and alerting the referee. The man in the middle really struggled with the new rules, forgetting the countdown protocol for most of the first half, before applying it exclusively when Grays had the ball.

In the final 10 minutes, Grays worked the ball into the final third on several occasions, but were too often guilty of hesitancy, giving Little Oakley crucial seconds to recover. As a consequence, Little Oakley found the last few minutes relatively comfortable and earned their 5th win in 9 league games.

In summary, a bitter pill to swallow, with the game decided by a bad error, a big miss and a goal poacher doing his job effectively. Little Oakley are up to 8th with 17 points which is a fantastic start to their first season in Step 4, but based on what I saw today, they are overachieving, not something we could ever say about this Grays side, right now.

For The Blues, that's 6 consecutive losses and a solitary point from 7 away games. However, the performance at Little Oakley was better and with a bit more polish in both boxes, surely a win was there for the taking.

Next Saturday's home game to fellow strugglers, Canvey Island takes on even more significance following their surprise home defeat to bottom side, Fakenham Town. Before that we have Wednesday's Essex Senior Cup tie at the EMR against National League, Hornchurch.

Grays Ath : Sambridge, Brampton, Joynes, Moss, L.Clark (46, Sammons), Hogan, Muldoon (82, Moncur), Chapps, Wade (75, Nnamudi), F.Price (63, Kileba), M.Price (70, Adams)