Grays started the better as they moved forward looking to take the early advantage with Leon McKenzie looking a class act with his movement, and he almost put Joao Carlos through only to be closed down quickly. Carlos was involved in all the early action and a superb pass from Lee Flynn found Carlos only to be charged down by Matt Bennett when clear.

There was nothing that the visiting keeper could do when a long pass from Andy Hall went to Harry Agombar, and the perfect pass arrived at Carlos’ feet for him to hit a shot across goal to settle in the net to give Blues the lead on eleven minutes.

The away side started to get into the game as the game settled into a midfield contest with neither team able to find any rhythm with inaccurate passes and hard won tackles, but it was James Gershfield who almost levelled when his free-kick skimmed the bar with the Blues defence flat-footed. Carlos and McKenzie, in space, were unable to break through a solid looking defence and Grays were reduced to shots from distance.

Agombar had a shot punched clear, and another that hit the post, whilst a Flynn shot went over as they tried to increase the lead, but slowly Bar started to push themselves. Hall was flattened under pressure from Brad Harrison, and a shot from Tom Pett went harmlessly wide.

Shortly before the break, a cross from Gershfield saw the Blues defence fail to clear and the ball fell to Rob Magwood, who slotted the ball into the net to level with minutes of the half left. Harrison and Simms almost snatched the lead, with the Grays defence still reeling, but Simms’ shot rolled harmlessly wide to the relief of all. Grays were relieved to hear the half time whistle to be able to re-group after big a push by Potters Bar.

Grays started the second half and immediately poured forward for Joe Dixon to put the ball in the net, only for Carlos to be adjudged offside. Another run by Dixon saw him felled by a defender. Dan Odama was sent off for the tackle, under suspicion that he was not to blame, to reduce the away team to ten men but the resulting free-kick was well saved by Bennett.

Louis Dennis came on for Dixon as the Blues pushed forward but another period of mis-placed passes from both sides made viewing tough. Joe O’Brien had a free-kick saved by Hall and Rob Magwood dragged his shot wide of the goal as Bar had chances to take the lead, but slowly Grays started to make the extra player count. A Dennis run saw him clear but his shot was saved by Bennett, and Agombar shot wide and it looked only a matter of time before Grays scored.

It was a move of class that saw Flynn hit a long ball to Danny Bunce and his long cross was headed back across goal by Carlos for McKenzie to volley the ball home to finish a fine move and put the home side back in front on the hour.

David Cowley came on for Carlos to give different options, and immediately made an impact when McKenzie put him through. He turned and shot from 20 yards with his left foot to settle the match with his first touches of the game with twenty minutes left.

Grays dominated the last minutes and Bradley Thomas had a shot saved on the line by Bennett, and another clearance off the line from a Cowley effort stopped Grays adding to their total. Another offside goal, this time by sub Joe Sweeney saw the game end after a tough battle against a battling Potters Bar side.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Lee Flynn, Bradley Thomas, Grant Cooper, Craig Pope, Danny Bunce, Joao Carlos (David Cowley 67), Harry Agombar, Kenny Beaney, Leon McKenzie (Joe Sweeney 78), Joe Dixon (Louis Dennis 58).

Subs not used: - Junior Baker, Stanley Muguo.

Report by Steve Allen.