Grays Athletic 1, Felixstowe and Walton 2

GRAYS snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with another disappointing performance, their fifth successive 2-1 BetVictor Isthmian North defeat on a dreadful run that has seen them collapse from being play-off hopefuls into a team in the bottom half of the table.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the home supporters at Parkside who saw Grays take the lead of the stroke of half time, concede late in the game and then be beaten in the fifth minute of added time.

Grays went into the game in the midst of an alarming run of form, the home side winning just one of their last 14 games after sitting top of the table before Christmas.

On a blustery afternoon it was Felixstowe who made the early running, Jordan Matthews was unlucky not to open the scoring in the second minute after he shot just wide of the far post after storming through on goal.

Ollie Canfer went even closer on 12 minutes, his excellent effort missing the left upright by no more than an inch after another clever move. Other chances came and went for the visitors but Grays gradually gained a foothold in the game and began to look capable of gaining a vital victory.

And the renaissance was completed in the last minute of the half when a corner from the right was only partially cleared and it was delivered back into the box where it was scrambled home by Tony Stokes.

Expectation at half time among the home fans was that their side would power on and take control and for periods they did just that, gaining a succession of corners.

But as the minutes ticked on they appeared to go into a more defensive mode and tried to defend what they had got – something which just invited Felixstowe pressure on to them.

The flow of the game was being repeatedly disrupted by free kicks and the seemingly over fussy referee managed to book eight players, four from each side, in a game played in a competitive but fair spirit.

Felixstowe finally drew level on 83 minutes, sub Stuart Ainsley crossing for Armani Schaar to volley a stunning curling shot into the top corner.

To their credit, Grays then reverted to a more attacking manner and as the game went into added time had a couple of chances to nick it. But fate was to prove against them as in the 95th and final minute, Jordan Matthews played in Miles Powell who sent in an inch perfect cross for Ollie Canfer to poke home the winning goal at the near post.