Some goalless encounters can be engaging matches, with more than enough thrills and spills to keep spectators royally entertained. Unfortunately, the Blues’ second trip to Suffolk in consecutive weekends was not one of them.
A strong cold wind blew straight down the pitch, which together with the low sun made for difficult conditions that neither side really came to terms with. Grays were depleted by suspensions to Knight and Sammons, with McQueen and Hahn coming into the starting XI.
The game started scrappily, with referee Mr Hitchcock, inadvertently getting in the way of the ball straight from the kick-off. It was rather a sign of things to come. Grays keeper, Danny Sambridge was called into action in the 8th minute with a smart save but otherwise Sudbury, playing with the wind in their backs, resorted mainly to shots from outside the box, that caused few problems. Only a succession of corners for the home side after the quarter hour, delivered expertly by Sudbury’s Reece Harris caused any real alarm.
On 34 minutes, Geof Okonkwo took one for the team, earning a yellow card for a foul to stop the home side breaking away, soon after which Grays exerted a period of pressure with Kai Brown running well with the ball at his feet and Jimmy Smith hitting a shot straight at young home custodian, Joshua Blunkell. Soon after Smith also saw yellow, after the Blues lost the ball carelessly in midfield. But Lewis Clark, having a fine afternoon in defence, saw the resulting free kick to safety.

Half time 0-0

If the wind-chilled crowd had hoped for better fare in the second half, they were disappointed. The ball either spent far too much time in the air, resulting in periods of head tennis, or passes were way overhit and out of play.
Marley Harris called Sambridge into action again early in the half, whilst Kai Brown sent a cross across the Sudbury box to no avail. Both sides started to empty the benches looking for the combination that might find the touch of class to win the game. Just after the hour, Joshua Stokes fired a strong shot from inside the box straight at Sambridge, whilst sub, Aron Gordon tried his luck on both wings without finding any real end product. Anointed Chukwu was winning headers from long clearances but had little support upfront to pick up the pieces. Gordon also nearly profited from an error by the home keeper, dropping the ball, but he was forced wide and the chance was gone. Some late pressure from Sudbury was comfortably defended by the Blues and the game petered out into stalemate.
On the positive side, the Grays back four were well organised and kept another clean sheet, maintaining our position as the division’s meanest defence, with Lewis Dark and Jimmy Smith holding firm in midfield. The away point also keeps the Ath in the playoff places.
Blues next game is in East London on Tuesday evening, in the re-arranged game at Barking, seeking more points in the race for promotion.

Grays Ath: Sambridge, McQueen, Joynes, Dark, Okonkwo, Clark, Lucan (Gordon 58), Smith, Chukwu, Hahn (Moncur 72), Brown (Paxman 75)
Sub not used: Griek