Grays fell at the first hurdle again, this time in the FA Trophy on Saturday against and young and lively Hertford Town, losing out by the odd goal in five.

Early on, Grays made the running, with Aron Gordon and Jordan Peart causing angst in the home defence. Debutant Chris Sery was also lively out wide left, giving home left back Kurainashe Musanhi plenty to think about. Hertford midfielder, Benjamin Herd, was also fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a two-footer on Gordon.

However, as the half wore on, Herford’s passing game pushed Blues further back, especially down their left flank, with Usman Adeniji needing re-inforcements down that side to repel the attacks. Brian Garzon shot straight at Blues keeper, Finn Thackway, deputising for the absent Danny Sambridge and Deimar Queni volleyed over.

Blues best chance came on 24 minutes when the returning Sam Bantick set Sery free and he beat home custodian, Luke Mewitt, only to see his shot come back off the post and cleared away to safety. At the other end, Peart pulled off a fine double block before Garzon again tested Thackway. So it was no surprise when Hertford took the lead on 38 minutes. Mushani was given far too much time to bring the ball out of defence and eventually the ball fell to Queni inside the area and his shot wrong-footed Thackway for a 1-0 lead.

Blues pushed late in the half, Bantick was caught in a tight off-side and Chris Millar shot wide after Gordon set him up.

Half time: Hertford Town 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

Whatever manager Mark Stimson said at half time worked immediately. Barely a minute in, the ball was worked out to David Knight wide right and his cross was turned in from close range by Bantick to make the score 1-1.

And on the hour, Bantick nearly turned provider when he hung up a delightful cross just out of the reach of Aron Gordon. Ten minutes later, it was Thackway’s chance to show his skills, turning a long-range shot from Wilson Burnell round the post.

Somewhat against the run of play, Blues then took the lead, with Millar setting up the rare example of an Aron Gordon header. 2-1 to Grays.

Controversy then reared its ugly head. With Bantick and Knight still making their way back into the Blues half, the referee allowed Hertford to kick off. It was an unexplainable and unforgivable mistake for a senior official. The linesman was equally culpable for not waving his flag to bring the situation to the ref’s attention. WIth Grays short-handed and not organised, the home side had the easiest of passages into the Blues penalty area where Harry Peterson volleyed smartly to equalise.

Even as the better side on the day, that episode put Hertford firmly on the front foot. Grays were though their own worst enemy. With only a few minutes left on the clock, Sonny Coughlin-Brown sent a corner into the Grays box and Benjamin Herd was given the freedom of Hertingfordbury Park to head home and decide the tie.

Grays threw everything late on, but the ball just wouldn’t fall and another cup exit beckoned.

Final score: Hertford Town 3 v 2 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath: Thackway, Adeniji, Peart (Knight, 46), R.Clark, L.Clark, Leahy, Gordon, Osei-Bobie (Damrell, 46), Sery, Bantick, Millar

Sub not used: Hoxha