In a game where there are few chances and little of quality to note - the old saying goes “If you can’t win the game, make sure you don’t lose it.” Rather than follow this sound advice, Grays Ath made two schoolboy errors, providing Takeley with their only real opportunities of the night and hence gave up the three points to a delighted opponent.

Manager, Mitch Hahn, gave debuts to two recent signings, the unrelated Matt Price and Freddie Price and both made excellent impressions . But as a team, it is simple mistakes that are costing dear.

Blues started the livelier and in just the second minute, Denim Nnamudi cut in from the right and tried a curling shot that was blocked out.

But then error number one, a Takeley corner - rather than being cleared was headed back into the danger area by a defender and Joe Pullen was left unmarked in the six yard area to head home, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Grays were though so nearly level only moments later, when a Freddie Price free kick was headed just the wrong side of the upright by Oli Muldoon.

The game then got mired in a long passage of nothingness. Takeley played very direct football with George Pullen launching long throws from all parts of the pitch - certainly not pretty but nevertheless effective for their squad. Blues were generally too careless in possession and often second to the loose ball.

With ten minutes of the half remaining, Blues almost equalised through a comedy moment when Connor Hogan released Gael Kileba down the left and in trying to clear his cross, the Takeley defender sliced the ball into keeper Kristers Ozols’s hands. It was a lucky escape.

But moments later another Freddie Price free kick induced a bout of head tennis in the visitors’ penalty area. Jordan Clark got the vital flick on, finding Matt Price in the six yard box to poach the equaliser.

And it was almost two just before half time when Freddie Price made it to the byline and crossed but the other Price’s shot was cleared for a corner.

Half time : Grays Athletic 1 v 1 Takeley

Grays had two early chances after the break. Denim Nnamudi volleyed straight at the keeper and a Freddie Price cross was toe-ended past the post by Tom Lethbridge. But in reality the half was very thin fare. Neither keeper was unduly troubled and changes from both benches produced little difference in the play. That said, the visitors made more of the running and looked the more likely with their direct play and closing down but it looked odds on a draw.

That is until ten minutes from time, and Grays’ second gift to the opposition, when Oli Muldoon lost the ball cheaply in midfield leaving the Blues defence exposed and a forward of the experience of George Sykes needed no second invitation to secure the win for Takeley.

The manner of the defeat was a bitter one for Blues fans to take. The squad has more than enough quality to win games like this but errors are costing the team dearly and need to be eliminated in the coming weeks, if the points tally is to start climbing.

Final score : Grays Athletic 1 v 2 Takeley

Grays Ath : Drew, Harvey, Moss, Sammons (73, Wade), J.Clark, Hogan, Kileba, Muldoon, Nnamudi (79, Moncur), F.Price, M.Price (73, Chapps)

Subs not used : McClean, Hahn