IT'S been a while but Grays Athletic were back in action at Three Bridges on Saturday in an entertaining friendly played out on a pristine playing surface with Joe Ogumbiade notching Blues' goal.

With a number of potential first team regulars unavailable through injury manager Jim Cooper took the opportunity to field some youngsters from the Youth set up who acquitted themselves well.

Mention should be made of keeper Sam Griek from the U16's making his debut in senior football in the second half looking comfortable at this level with a confident display. New signing Danny Gould, a second half substitute looked lively going close with a couple of efforts on his Blues debut. The other new signing Connor Hammond did enough to think he will be an asset in the coming months. The remainder of the squad was made up of first team regulars and trialists.

The first period saw the hosts enjoy a good deal of possession without really troubling a Blues rearguard well marshalled by Ashley Miller back after long term injury. Up front Anointed Chukwu held the ball up well bringing supporting players into the game , Joao Carlos showed glimpses of his power and pace and youngster Callum Watts, once adjusting to the pace of the game blended well in midfield.

The game created few clear cut chances in the first 45 although the hosts opened the scoring to go in at the break with the advantage

The second period saw the introduction of Albert Levett and Danny Gould which gave Blues impetus going forward allowing them to enjoy the lions share of possession and territory. Gould especially created excitement whenever on the ball and came close with a glancing header and a shot from outside the box that the keeper did well to save.

Macca Joynes came close from a free kick just outside the area clipping the angle of bar and post but it was Ogumbiade who netted the equaliser in the 78th minute after a cross into the box found him unmarked where he gleefully slammed the ball into the top of the net.

So the game finished all square and although a win is always good at this stage of the season it's no gauge as to how the season will pan out. More importantly for the management team preseason is to assess the fitness and look at various formations and decide which trialists could strengthen the squad. With a burgeoning youth set up it was good to see some of the youngsters on show yesterday and indicate to them that with had work there is pathway to the senior squad.

Squad; Danny Sambrook, Harry Baker, Connor Hammond, Ash Miller, Ellis Ashworth, Henry Fisher, Thompson Adeyemi, Don Okoh, Annointed Chukwu, Callum Watts, Joao Carlos, Joe McEvoy, Jack McQueen, Macca Joynes, Albert Levett, Joe Agumbiade, Joe Paxman, Dann Gould, Sam Griek.

Grays are back in action tomorrow (Monday, 5th July) with a home friendly at Aveley's Parkside ground against Cray Valley, starting at 7.45pm.