Setback for Grays at Waltham Abbey

With the Blues looking to play the ball to feet, Waltham Abbey harried and hustled to close down the game.

The Abbots forwards were very lively and chased the ball every time the ball entered the Grays half and the Blues defence needed to be aware of the danger of Steve Cawley, Kieren Ogonkoya and Tom Laxton.

The pace of these three caused problems all afternoon. John Docker looked to carry on his good form and his pass to Steve Demetriou was perfection, unfortunately his shot went wide.

Alex Osborn had an unlucky match and, but for Harry Ricketts in the Abbotts goal, could easily have had a hat-trick on another day.

Docker put Alex through and a solid header was tipped over by the home stopper, a second chance was kicked off the line by Matt Attard.

A long pass from Laxton released Manny Osei who shot on goal but Steve Northwood was equal to the task and saved well.

Grays stepped up the pressure and pushed forward. Si Thomas, Demetriou and Docker all had attempts on goal, this time the Abbotts defence held firm.

The ball was kicked off the line, twice, by Louis Bristow, and a superb tip over by Ricketts. An excellent move by Demetriou saw him turn in the box to see his well hit shot, again, saved well by Ricketts, whose heroics was keeping Waltham Abbey in the game.

A long pass from Docker found Si Thomas who passed to Junior Baker to slot home, only to find out Thomas had been adjudged offside.

Waltham Abbey started to get back in the game when Cawley released Laxton.

His cross went across the goal and Osei was late on his attempt to see the ball go wide of an empty Grays goal, and as the whistle blew the Abbotts were on the up.

Waltham came out for the second half looking the hungrier of the two teams, chasing down the ball and stopping Grays from moving the ball around.

Cawley intercepted a pass from Demetriou and crossed to find Laxton, his well struck header going just over. Brad Thomas blocked an attack by Abbey and hit a long ball to Si Thomas, his header found Alex clear and his well hit shot was well saved by Ricketts. His clearance was hit long to Laxton who put Ogankoya clear, a mis-understanding between Baker and Northwood allowed Kieren to lob the keeper to see his shot drop into the far post for the Abbotts to take the lead on the hour. This lifted the home side and they moved forward to push home their advantage. Laxton hit a shot wide, Osei hit the bar when clear, and Ogankoya saw his well hit shot saved by Northwood.

The Abbotts midfield were in control and the Blues mis-hit passes were beginning to become regular. Julian Dicks subbed Docker with new signing Danny Charge (on 70 minutes) to try to change the tactics and get the Blues back into the game. Grays settled for a short while and should have been level when Pennant put Osborn through to chip the keeper and put the ball in the net.

The attempt was harshly ruled offside, Si Thomas in an off side position, and this decision saw the Blues heads drop.

Another substitution by Grays brought Justin Fontain on for Eljay Worrell, to try to lift the spirits, and he immediately forced a corner.

Three attempts at the corner eventually saw the ball go out for a goal kick. The home side attacked in numbers looking to take advantage and, deep into stoppage time, they doubled their lead when a mistake in the away defence allowed the ball to drop loose in the penalty area for Laxton to poke the ball into the net to make the score 2-0.

The referee blew for full time with the Grays team looking tired and jaded, and with a huge blow to their belief.

Grays Athletic – Steve Northwood, Eljay Worrell (Fontaine88), Junior Baker, Brad Thomas, Danny Bunce, Steve Demetriou, Marvin Samuel, John Docker (Danny Charge70), Dean Pennant, Si Thomas, Alex Osborn Waltham Abbey – Harry Ricketts, Ibrahim Conteh, Matt Bedford, Amin Ibrahim, Matt Attard, Louis Bristow, Steve Cawley, Tom Laxton, Manny Osei, Kieran Ogonkaya, Tyler Campbell