A very windy Chadfields saw Grays start the better as they moved up from the whistle and a solid shot from Stanley Muguo was wildly cleared by Paul King but the Blues could not get hold of the ball in the wind. A long ball from Emiel Aiken saw Alex Read turn past Paul Olima and Tony Tucker, only to hit the ball wide of an empty net to give the away side a scare in an end-to-end period of play.

The Tilbury forwards were looking lively, but the Blues back four were wary and managed to keep them in check. Danny Bunce managed to pick up a loose ball and ran forward to find Leon McKenzie clear, and his clever pass into the path of Joao Carlos saw the winger felled in the box for Grays to be awarded a penalty, duly dispatched by Louis Dennis, to give Grays the lead on 12 minutes.

Tilbury tried to get back on terms but could not find a way through as the Blues were still looking solid but a harsh decision against Craig Pope saw Eljay Worrell hit his free-kick straight at Tucker. The away side were comfortable on the ball and another twisting run by Carlos and pass to Bunce saw Joe Nightingill clear the danger. A hard tackle on a lively Carlos saw tough defender Bansende limp off with hamstring problems as Grays kept the pressure on to no avail.

Dennis found space to run at goal but Marrable was equal to the task and a McKenzie shot rolled harmlessly wide as Grays wasted several chances, and King was lucky to stay on the pitch after a two-footed tackle on Kenny Beaney but the resultant free-kick was cleared from danger by Marrable. A Henty free-kick was cleared by Pope as the Dockers tried to level but the half finished with the Blues just having edged the play.

With the wind behind them Grays started the liveliest after the break and a run by Anthony Ryan saw the ball taken from his feet when clear and a Beaney free-kick was hit long and cleared comfortably. Slowly the Dockers started to get the better of the play and Aiken was starting to make his presence felt as he crossed to Barnes and Tucker superbly saved low to his left from the header as the home side started to believe they could get something from the game.

The game was starting to get slightly physical in a tough midfield tussle and a foul by Beaney on Henty saw Tucker in action as he tipped the ball wide of the post from the free-kick and Cook headed over the bar from the resultant corner. McKenzie and Ryan kept pushing forward but were unable to beat the offside trap and a twisting run from Carlos saw his shot roll wide as Grays tried to turn the tide of play but the Dockers were not to be denied.

From a free-kick the Blues defence were caught out as the ball arrived at the feet of Nightingill on the far post for him to poke home past Tucker to level the game with twenty minutes left. Read thought he had put the home side in front only to see his effort ruled offside as Tilbury were on top.

Webb and West came on for the Dockers as they tried to push home the advantage and, with Grays looking fatigued, the home side ran forward looking to take the points. With time running down a long throw came in from Barnes and with the ball running loose in the Grays area Good hit the ball wide of Tucker to put Tilbury in front.

With Sweeney, Cowley and Small on for Grays they finally found some space but the home defence held tight as first Small, then Sweeney both saw chances spurned. Carlos ran free to take on Marrable but the home stopper pulled off a solid smother of the ball to deny an equalizer. The game ended with a defeat for the away side and the away supporters wondering how the team lost a game when they had been so comfortable at half time.

Grays Athletic: - Tony Tucker, Craig Pope, Junior Baker, Paul Olima, Danny Bunce, Joao Carlos, Kenny Beaney (David Cowley 88), Stanley Muguo, Louis Dennis (Jared Small 81), Anthony Ryan (Joe Sweeney 75), Leon McKenzie.

Subs not used: - Grant Cooper, Jean-Michel Sigere

Report by Steve Allen