Essex Senior Cup Quarter Final
Barking 1 v 2 Grays Ath
GRAYS bounced back from their weekend disappointment against Cheshunt to win through to the semi-final of the Essex Senior Cup, which they last reached in 2007.
However, it wasn’t a particularly impressive performance by the Ryman One North high-fliers against their Essex Senior league hosts and they owed victory to substitute Danny Bunce who came off the bench to equalise and then grab the winner two minutes later.
This was the first competitive meeting between the sides since October 1999, when Barking won 2-1 in the Essex Thameside Trophy and for much of Tuesday’s cup tie it looked like there might be a repeat result.
Things didn’t start well for Grays when they lost David East early into his return to the side through an injury. He was replaced by Ryan Kirby who saw his side go a goal behind soon after when Nathan Philip headed home from a free kick.
Grays struggled from then on until they drew level with just ten minutes remaining when Bunce, who had replaced Jake Hall. Levelled with a low drive.
And two minutes later he earned Grays the win with a header after getting on the end of Harry Agombar’s cross.
