Grays Athletic 4, Thamesmead 1 BETWEEN them Grays and Thamesmead had only scored 53 goals in a combined 42 games and so a tight, low scoring game would not have been a surprise and so it transpired in the first half, writes Steve Allen.

Neither team could get any momentum during a tough, physical 45 minutes, and Thamesmead edged the half during a dire performance by the Blues.

Wild passing and defensive mistakes afforded the Town's forwards more space than would have been expected, but Gabe Momodu and Constable could not capitalize on their chances.

A mistake by the Blues defence allowed a clear run by Momodu but his shot went wide, a free kick from Mcgeegan went wide, then Momodu hit the post with a hard hit shot.

It took nearly half hour before Grays had their first genuine attack when a move by Osborn found Docker clear of the defence but his shot went wide. More wild passing gave the South London side chances to take the lead, when a break by Avery found Constable clear only to see his shot stopped on the line by Pennant for Docker to clear.

A final attack by Grays allowed Pennant a run forward and his pass to Docker was shot wide of the Thamesmead goal.

The referee blew his whistle to end a dismal half, much to the relief of the players and fans alike.

A clever tactical change by Julian Dicks, playing 3-5-2 for the second half, pushed Worrell to the left of midfield and gave the Blues more width to attack. This advantage immediately gave Grays the edge and from the kick off Worrell was given the ball to run at the Thamesmead defence.

The away back four struggled to cope with his pace, and five minutes into the half Worrell ran to the by line to cross to Si Thomas, for his header to go tantalisingly past the near post. The Blues started to dominate the game, with man-of-the-match Docker controlling the moves.

On 52 minutes Si Thomas intercepted a pass from McGeehan to head the ball to Docker, his cross found Worrell clear on the far post to head into the goal to give Grays the lead.

A minute later a free kick by Docker was hit sweetly but just shaved the near post. A shell-shocked Thamesmead team tried to get back into the game and a defensive mistake, five minutes later, allowed Momodu to find space in front of goal.

His shot was tipped wide by Northwood but Constable, running in at the far post, slotted the ball home to equalise against the run of play.

Immediately Grays came back when a long pass by Baker found Si Thomas who headed the ball into the path of Osborn. His deflected shot found the back of the net to give Grays the lead on the hour.

The away side pushed to get the equalizer and a frantic fifteen minute spell found the Blues on the back foot.

Shots from the Thamesmead forwards would not go over the line.

Baker, Worrell, and Brad Thomas all cleared the ball from the goal line, and Northwood punched clear shots from Momodu and Patterson.

With five minutes to go, at tired looking Si Thomas was subbed by Aiken and this gave the Blues the impetus to push to finish the game off. Docker, still pushing forward, saw his shot tipped round the post by Mott, in the Thamesmead goal.

A poor corner by Grays gave the away side one last attack.

A foul gave Mcgeehan a chance to go for goal, but his sweetly struck shot was tipped wide by Northwood to dis-appoint the away team.

With five minutes time added, Grays went looking to finish the game off.

Worrell had a shot saved on the line and the ball came back to Docker. His clever side step gave him the space to hit a shot wide of the away stopper to give him a deserved goal.

From the kick off the ball was taken from Avery by Pennant whose wide pass found Demetriou on the right wing.

He cut inside to go past three players and hit a low shot to score the best goal of the game, and give Grays their biggest win of the season, so far.

The second half was as exciting, as the first half was dour, and the fans went home satisfied at a job well done.

Grays Athletic – Steve Northwood, Brad Thomas, Eljay Worrell, Junior Baker, Danny Bunce, Marvin Samuel, Steven Demetriou, John Docker, Dean Pennant, Si Thomas (Emil Aiken 85), Alex Osborn, Thamesmead Tn – Sam Mott, Chris Davis, Ash Roberts, Danny Moore, James Campbell, Rich Avery, Scott Mulholland, Cal McGeehan, Sol Patterson, Gabe Momodu, Andy Constable