After their heroics in the County Cup last week, the Grays fans hoped that that the squad might finally be living up to their early season promise. But once again, it was not to be as the Blues drew a blank against Coggeshall Town, who in truth offered little either, in a game short on quality at both ends.

And yet the early signs were promising. As early as the 4th minute, out of nothing, captain Lewis Dark hit the proverbial 30 yard screamer, but with home keeper, Jake Jessup, beaten all ends, the ball cannoned back off the cross bar. And that was almost as good as it was going to get for the many travelling faithful. Again though, for the Blues, the highlight of the first half was the performance of recent signing Reuben Soares Jr, who was causing occasional panic down the right wing with some direct running towards goal. Just after the quarter of an hour, Soares tied full back, Joseph Claridge in knots and brought a good save from Jessup.

But all too often, periods of pressure failed to produce any meaningful end product. Several times, Macaulay Joynes and Nathan Fox tried to get telling balls into the box, but to no avail. Only once, did Fox and Soares combine well, ending with Joao Carlos blazing his shot over the bar. For the home side, right wing Ayrton Colley was a persistent danger, especially when cutting inside, but the Grays defensive three of Clark, Peter and McQueen were largely in control, as were the Coggeshall defence at the other end.

On the half hour, Coggeshall had their best chance of the half, when a long clearance found centre forward Nnamdi Nwachuku clean through. His precise lob from the edge of the box beat the on-rushing Danny Sambridge but, unluckily for him, also just went over the cross bar – a real let off for the Blues.

The game was also made no easier for both sides by some very officious decision-making from referee, Mr Pope. On several occasions, applying the advantage rule would have helped the flow of the game rather than insisting on stopping play, whilst too many honest challenges were called as fouls. The referee even found time to lecture the Grays bench on his interpretation of the game.

Half time 0-0

The second half started where the first left off, with few clear-cut chances at either end. Only once, when Tony Stokes brought a good save after a lung-busting run from Joao Carlos, did things look more promising for the Blues. Play swung from end-to-end, but neither side were able to control the midfield for any length of time. The breakthrough for Coggeshall came just after the hour mark, when after a smart one-two with Joshua Pollard, the lively Nwachuku controlled the ball well at the near post and poked the ball past Sambridge for a 1-0 lead.

The goal seemed to affect the Blues players and heads appeared to drop. Too many times, the ball was lost in the centre of the field, and when the play did get near to the Coggeshall penalty area, a lack of any real penetration in the final third continued to cost Grays dear. Only a Macaulay Joynes volley after 75 minutes and a shot from the edge of the area by substitute, Emmanuel Ogunrinde late into injury time, carrying any real threat. But the Coggeshall defence held firm, especially, sub Toby Barlow who marshalled matters at the back with a calm efficiency.

Full time: Coggeshall Town 1 v Grays Athletic 0

That defeat makes it just one win in nine league outings for the Blues, with a run of tricky-looking fixtures to come over the next month, starting on Tuesday (weather permitting) with a trip to local rivals Tilbury, for what is always a keenly- contested game with local bragging rights very much up for grabs.

Grays Ath: Sambridge, Fox, Joynes, Clarke, Peter (King 68 mins), McQueen, Soares Jr, Hahn (Girling 90 mins), Stokes (Ogunrinde 72 mins), Dark, Carlos

Unused sub: Sammons