GRAYS ATH dug deep, held firm, showed consistency and took a well deserved three points away from Barrows Farm with a 2-1 victory.
Boss Julian Dick’s was very frustrated after the draws at Wingate and Maldon and for a long time it looked like Grays might be frustrated again.
With difficult conditions to combat again, the first half was littered with unforced errors.
The first chance came in the 4th minute when John Docker sent over a free kick but Simon Thomas just couldn’t direct his header.
First chance of the game came from Harlow’s Getro Kilapi who couldnt get his shot in but in the 10th minute Leon Antoine should have scored with a free header five yards out.
Grays couldn’t mount a challenge. Nice interlinking play from Eljay Worrell and John Docker was once again snuffed out easily.
Harlow opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when keeper Stephen Northwood upended Kalipe in the box.
Captain Daniel Brown cooly slotted the ball away to put the Hawks in the lead.
But Harlow have had a terribly inconsistent season after many had tipped them for promotion and so they needed to extend Grays fairly quickly.
Harlow had another fine chance in the 28th minute when Lee Roache broke free but again he drifted to the left and the moment was gone.
Grays looked for the taking as every move ended in an unforced error.
Gray forced a corner after a probing cross from Worrell but the resulting corner drifted harmlessly out for a goal kick.
But deep into injury time in the first half, Grays equalised when Simon Thomas sprung the offside trap and cooly lobbed the ball over Hawks keeper James Hasell.
The second half burst into life when Lee Roache once again burst free but he was thwarted by a marvellous save by Stephen Northwood who tipped the ball over for a corner.
If there is one class act at Grays then it is Alex Osbourn and he proved it in the 55th minute when he picked up the ball twenty five yards out and fired it into the right hand corner of the net.
John Docker went close a minute as Grays looked full of confidence.
Grays started to have a little bit of steel about them with midfielders such as Steven Demetriou tackling like tigers.
Harlow still pressed. The equaliser nearly came on the hour when Leon Lalite’s curling free kick was, again. turned round the post by Stephen Northwood.
Harlow’s threat started to drain away as they became profligate and directionless while Grays remained resolute. Junior Bates led from the back as he made a series of timely interceptions last chance interceptions.
Grays held out and the faithful fans celebrated with a three points that may well kick start the rest of the season. Last season, Aveley went from third from bottom to reach the play-offs however, Grays now meet Needham Market on Wednesday which may well be a sterner test.
Grays Ath: 4-4-2
S.Northwood, B Thomas, E Worrell, J Baker, D Bunce, J Docker (J Fontaine 85), S Demetriou, M Samuel, D Pennant, A Osborn, S Thomas
Subs not used: D Reynolds, T Harvey, R Brown, E Aiken
Bookings: D Pennant, B Thomas
