Blues return to league action at Parkside after two weeks on the road tomorrow when they entertain Hullbridge Sports managed by ex Blues assistant manager and long time Blues fan Darren Manning. It will be the first league meeting between the clubs although they did meet in the FA Cup in a qualifying round back in 2015, Blues running out 6-0 winners with a hat trick from Bradley Fortnum - Mason and two from Dumebi Dumaka. Sports though have moved on since then and after winning the Essex Senior League title last season now find themselves playing at their highest level in the Bet Victor league.

Manning along with his assistant James Wakeling( another Blues fan) have ensured Sports have made a steady start to their debut season currently sitting in fifteen place with thirteen points . Their three wins so far have come against quality opposition with the pick being a 1-0 away win at Cambridge City plus wins over AFC Sudbury and Felixstowe & Walton, last Saturday at home they fought out a 1-1 draw with Basildon United. Looking at their current squad there is a definite Grays connection with names familiar to Blues fans including Tim Monsheju, Luke Hornsley, Dan Gilchrist and Lewis Green, reflecting the managers links to his former club. Joint leading league goal scorers are Yemi Ogunfunilade and Elliot Ronto.

Blues go into the game on the back of a morale boosting and hardworking win at Histon , Steve King coming up with the vital winning goal in the first half. The win pushed Blues back into the play offs after a difficult period where injuries, suspensions and the rub of the green blunted their early season form. It seemed in recent weeks there was a conveyor belt of players injured, recovering only to find another player picking up an injury all contributing to selection problems for Jim Cooper who has been unable to field a full strength squad since the injury to Tony Stokes back in September, hopefully he will be back in the not too distant future. Certainly the squad has been strengthened in recent weeks with George Purcell adding firepower to the front line and Ryan Sammons slotting into the back four which has certainly added stability with just one goal conceded in his two appearances and a first clean sheet of the season last Saturday. Confidence will be high in the squad who will be looking to consolidate their play off place with a win tomorrow but will be aware Hullbridge will be hoping to spoil the party.

Form Guide
Blues
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Hullbridge
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