Grays Athletic 1, Maldon & Tiptree 2

GRAYS gave BetVictor Isthmian League North leaders Maldon a decent run for their money but in the end could have few complaints as the Jammers continued their seemingly unstoppable ride to the title.

With six matches in hand on their nearest rival the visitors now have a three point lead and are odds on to clinch promotion.

That said, two borough sides are in the play-off zone with Aveley and Tilbury looking a solid bet for the play-offs - but for Grays that is now a far off ambition after a poor run of results.

Played in a swirling wind there was little goalmouth action as play became contained into midfield. The home side did fashion an early chance with Mitch Hahn's long throw finding Nathan Fox in the goal area but his close range header was well saved by visiting keeper Ben McNamara.

Grays keeper Danny Sambridge was then called upon to show his ball skills to dispossess and clear the ball as Jorome Slew moved onto a long clearance upfield before the visitors' Charlee Hughes gave Slew an opening but his first time shot flew straight into Sambridge's arms.

It took until 30 minutes for a direct effort on goal to feature when the Jammers Hughes gained possession of a long goal kick that held up in the wind and sent a good effort slamming onto the Grays bar before rebounding clear.

Maldon and Tiptree took the lead after 34 minutes when Hughes was pushed to the ground as he went up for a header leaving the referee little option than to award a penalty kick which saw Conor Hubble beating his former teammate, Sambridge, with a low spot kick to the keeper's left that Sambridge got a touch to but could not prevent the ball finding the net.

As Maldon and Tiptree often do they added another goal very quickly when, on 38 minutes, a fine passing move from midfield involving Hanza Kaid and Hubble saw the latter send Slew clear on goal and he expertly fired past the advancing Sambridge.

The Jammers thought they had made the game safe just two minutes into the second half when Slew ran through and finished well into the corner but the score was chalked off for what must have been a very close offside call.

Sambridge was soon in action again to do very well to just palm away Lance Akins' header from a Hubble corner then had to be adept to clear with his boot as Jammers full back Al-Amin Kazeem got to the goal line before pulling the ball back across goal.

Sambridge then excelled to dive and turn Hubble's fierce effort from the edge of the penalty area round the post before being brave to save at Slew's feet as the forward ran in on goal.

As the game drew to a close the home side at last showed some urgency and a glancing header from Hahn's free kick from wide left flew just wide of goal before their hopes of getting anything from the game seemed to disappear with Lewis Clark's dismissal with a second yellow card.

As the ninety minutes came up the home side did manage to get on the score sheet with a blinding, effort, when Nathan Fox looked to offer no threat when fully 30 metres out from goal but his first time volley from that distance seemed to catch the wind and flew into the net.

Although encouraged by this the home side could not break down the visitors' defence and it was the Jammers who almost scored again well into added time when Slew played substitute Danny Parish through on goal but his effort was saved by Sambridge.