Ryman Div One North
Witham Town 0 v 0 Grays Ath
IT WAS dour but in the end it was a valuable away point for Grays as they drew 0-0 with Witham at Spa Road.
With the blustery wind behind them, Grays exerted a great deal of pressure in the first fifteen minutes With Joao Carlos and Luke Marshall seeing plenty of action down the flanks.
Although Luke Marshall had the first chance of the match in the 10th minute when his flicked header from a Lee Flynn free kick went just over the bar.
In the 17th minute, Joao Carlos floated in a wicked corner that the keeper, Jason Baker managed to push over the bar by his finger-tips.
Grays had all the possession but could not find the opening. They had structure and fluency but were finding Witha a hard nut to crack.
In the 29th minute, Lee Flynn fired a twenty yard free kick but it went past the post. Grays Ath had a fair shout for a penalty when keeper caught Luke Marshall’s heels but the referee, Wade Norcott.
It wasn’t until the 37th minute that Witham had a shot on target and even then the weak shot just trickled into Lamar Johnson’s arms.
The question for the second half was whether it was all about the wind that blew into the Blues faces. It wasn’t as Grays asserted themselves from the restart.
Grays had a second great shout for a handball but again the referee said no.
It was virtually all Grays but with little to show. Leon Lalite had a shot cleared off the line in the 68th minute. Joe Sweeney had a great chance but it flew high over the bar.
Grays were playing well and couldn’t really be faulted and to be fair, Witham were well organised.
The tempo increased as Grays looked for the three points. Junior Baker started to make his trademark runs, boss Hakan brought on three subs but they couldn’t break through.
Grays had to be satisfied with the away point and with Maldon losing at Thamesmead, it was another step towards their goal.
Att: 138
Referee: Wade Norcott
Grays Ath: Johnson L, Pope C, Flynn L, Baker J, Kirby R, Marshall L (Hall J 82), Lalite L (Small J 82), Beaney K, West J, Sweeney J, Carlos J (Bunce D 68)
Subs not used: Kamarusi G, Subuola D
