The FA Cup is a goldmine in more ways than one, for the fans and players it is a chance to play unfamiliar opposition, for the clubs it is a chance to
raise much needed revenue from prize money and for your match reporter it is a chance to dig out all the old cliches.
Following a draw in Bedfordshire last saturday some fans would be forgiven for thinking that Stotfold the lower ranked team had missed their chance when the sides replayed at Parkside, Aveley on Wednesday evening. Any thoughts of that were quickly dismissed when in the first minute of the game Stotfold went on the attack. Devante Simmi found himself in the area with only Sambridge to beat and he slotted home with composure to ignite the romance of the cup and possibly a recurring nightmare for long suffering Blues fans.
In fairness this shock probably woke Grays up and the familiar pattern of play for much of the first half was the home side in possession against stalwart defensive play from the visitors. With half time approaching the game come alive with plenty of incident and turning points. With Grays trying to get an elusive equaliser a Stotfold clearance set up a break for the visitors that left Code-Lee Spavins unmarked at the back post to finish a fast counter with a well taken volley that doubled the lead. At this point the cup upset was well and truly on and Grays needed a quick response and quick it was. Aron Gordon fed Joshua Osude down the right hand side and he outpace the away defence to fire past Gooch to bring the hosts back into the game. Just when the Blues faithful were thinking they had a lifeline Stotfold responded immediately up the other end
and won themselves a penalty right on the stroke of half time. Mason Spence took responsibility for the visitors with a well low struck shot but home town hero Danny Sambridge went down to his left to pull off a save that you could argue kept Grays in the cup as half time arrived.

It was all to play for in the second half and Grays cheered on by a vociferous and partisan home support set about the Stotfold goal again not least with a great shift of forward play from skipper on the night Sam Bantick who led the line, held the ball up and laid it off to the pacey Grays midfield who were now starting to have more influence on the game. The equaliser finally arrived in 61st minute when Callum Watts
a second half substitute got Blues back on terms. Excellent work by Osude on the right found Watts on the edge of the box and he took one touch before firing low into the bottom corner. After this it was then Stotfold who came more into the game and the Grays defence had to be resolute as the spirited away side went in search of a winner.
A decisive goal did eventually come but it was for Grays as man of the match Osude rounded off his night, as well as the keeper, to finish from a tight angle to send the home fans into raptures as the comeback was complete.

The final result could be seen as a little harsh on Stotfold, they led for the majority of the tie although Grays had that little bit more towards the end of both matches which eventually see them into the next round. So after a few seasons of upsets, early exits and even an expulsion, Blues fans can finally say that the FA Cup is not just for cliches, it is for Grays Athletic as well!