GRAYS Athletic produced by far their best performance of the season on Saturday, 28 February, to take all three points against the Isthmian North’s most in-form team, who were made to look distinctly second-best.
This was what the Blues faithful had been looking for – determination, effort and a never-say-die approach. Then there was also the debut up front of Mitch Hahn recruit, Gabriel Chapps, who could barely have dreamed of a better first showing in a Blue shirt.
Before the match supporters stood in tribute during a minute’s applause for long time club stalwart Peter Jackson, who passed away recently.
From the first whistle, Grays were in the faces of their promotion-chasing opponents. Ned Hepburn out wide left was tormenting his opposing right back, George Scales and put three crosses into the box before the game was five minutes old.
And yet it was Bowers that had the first clear chance of the afternoon, when Jamie Salmon hit the side netting when he probably should have done better.
After a few early misplaced passes, Grays’ attacking-looking front line of Hepburn, Chapps, Sam Wade and Manny Ogunrinde were starting to work well together, with Chapps holding the ball up well and winning headers for others to run onto. And it was his long-range free kick that flattened Salmon, who caught the ball square in the face, requiring close attention from the trainer.
Former Blue, Michael Bareck, shot across the face of goal but that was a rare break from the Grays pressure.
Blues fans were beginning to worry that all their pressure would lead to nothing, especially when Ned Hepburn’s cut into the box and shot was well saved by the outstretched foot of Bowers keeper, Joseph Whitney. But eventually the pressure told. From a quick corner routine, the ball was worked across the box to Chapps who finished smartly from close range to give Grays the lead, lifting the tension in the stands.
