By Steve Allen
Grays retrieved a point in a ding dong battle that once again confirms their promoton credentials but also underlines what a difficult league this is.
The first half went by almost un-noticed as both teams sized each other up. Sudbury seemed mindful that Grays were a team that could easily open the floodgates if you fail to show them sufficient respect.
But the real action happened in the second half. Ishmael Welsh came on for Stephen Demetriou and simply took up where he left off on the Blue Square Premier.
In the 54th minute, Welsh streaked down the right, crossed and Jared Small fired the ball past the Sudbury keeper, whom although getting a hand to it, just failed to keep the ball out.
Grays’ confidence fizzed as the sought to get Ishamel Welsh on the ball. In the 75th minute, he wove his magic again, once again getting a cross in which was met by a glancing header by Simon Thomas that put Grays into a 2-0 lead.
That should have been that but then Jerome Ingram picked up an injury which saw Alsenny Cissoko replace him at right back. Out of position, Sudbury seized their chance and in ten minutes turned Grays game upside down as they struck three goals to surely give the Suffolk side the three points.
But this Blues team is made of sterner stuff and with just two minutes left on the clock, Welsh once again worked his magic down the right, crossed and in the resulting confusion, a Sudbury defender turned the ball into his own net.
It was no more than Grays deserved. They dropped down to fourth in the table but will go into their match against Enfield on tuesday night feeling that they are a team that will be very hard to beat.
