Ryman Div One North
Grays Ath 1 v 1 Chatham Town
GRAYS dropped two valuable points at home as sloppy defending at the back cost them dear.
The game started quietly. Chatham looked like a competent outfit that would take sometime to unpick.
But with six straight wins under their belt, Grays looked in patient mood with both Nathan Gordon and James Bunn looking sharp.
The first corner for Grays Ath came in the 13th minute. Jake Hall pumped it over and Bradley Thomas’ header just flew over. Hall has been a great signing for Grays and relishes the responsibility.
Chatham were one of these teams that seemed intent on beating themselves and were in the referee’s ears constantly especially Lloyd Blackman.
In the 21st minute, Danny Bunce put through an outstanding ball to Joao Carlos on the right. He chested it, chipped the keeper but Chatham did well to clear the ball off the line.
Carlos was on fire and went close with a great run but once again Chatham scrambled it clear.
A nasty challenge on Jake Hall by Garry Tilley saw the Chatham strike receive a yellow. Hall wasn’t happy and boss Hakan was worried that the fiery young man was going to lose his head.
It was a quiet start to the second half. The pressure was all Grays but they were having trouble carving out chances.
But Grays were starting to dwell on the ball at the back and that is a fatal habit. In the 56th minute, the defence got in a mix-up, keeper Tony Tucker was caught off his line and Lloyd Blackman chipped him to put the Kent side in the lead.
Minutes ticked by but Grays did not seem to be able to step up the pace as well as show any invention.
In the 69th minute, Joao Carlos broke free from his marker and produced a great save from the keeper for a corner. From the corner, Junior Baker’s header hit the bar.
But just when you thought it wasn’t going to happen. In the 75th minute, Lee Flynn produced a cracker as he shot from just outside the box and the ball flew into the net.
Once again, Bradley Thomas put his team in danger as he dwelt on the ball enabling Chatham to chip the keeper but this time the heroic Baker cleared off the line.
Grays tried but couldn’t force a winner. But it was a step closer to the play offs as they head to play Romford on Easter Monday.
Grays Ath: Tucker T, Pope C, Hall J (Sigere J-M 60), Baker J, Thomas B, Bunn J (Sweeney J 60), Bunce D, Gordon N (Charge D 85), Flynn L, Agombar H, Carlos J.
Subs not used: Fontaine J, Olima P
