GRAYS ATHLETIC fans were celebrating qualifying for the Ryman Div One North play offs after beating Waltham Abbey 1-0 at Capershotts.
Grays started brightly with neat interlinking play. Kenny Beaney was working box to box. Jaoa Carlos looked sprightly as well. In the 7th minute he skipped a tackle and the Abbey player was lucky to not receive a caution.
The first real chance came in the 11th minute when Jake Hall sprinted onto a through ball by Kenny Beaney but his shot went over the bar.
At the other end, an unmarked Steve Cawley hit a howitzer over the bar as a warning to Grays.
Nathan Gordon was proving a handful as he won a number of corners. But the game got bogged down into long balls and Grays players over-playing in the box.
The game sparked into life with a lovely turn and a thunderous shot by Joaa Carlos which was superbly stopped by veteran keeper, Richard Hayward.
Grays came out for the second half with the sun on their backs started to play more creative football. A lovely move in the 55th minute saw James Bunn and Nathan Gordon linking up well before passing to Jake Hall whose shot just went past the post.
But Richard Hayward was in fantastic form between the sticks and brought off a great triple save to repel the Blues.
The pressure was intensifying and on the hour, Nathan Gordon made it count. He hustled his way just outside the area, shrugged off a couple of players, picked his spot and scored.
For the next ten minutes, Grays controlled the game but as the clock ticked down their game became understandably nervy.
Steve Crawley continued to pepper the goal as Abbey gave it their all.
But Grays Ath determinedly held out to book their play off place.
Att: 153
Grays Ath: Timarisu G, Pope C, Cooper G (Thomas B 70 ), Baker J, Flynn L, Gordon N, Bunce D, Beaney K, Carlos J, Bunn J (Sweeney J 81 ), Hall J
Subs not used: Fontaine J, Olima P
