Grays Athletic 1, Hashtag United 5

GRAYS took on Isthmian North leaders Hashtag at the EMR on Wednesday (7 October), hoping to upset the form book. But they came up well short on the night.

There were three changes to the starting XI from Saturday's game at Newmarket, with Jordan Clarke, Oli Muldoon and Freddie Price not available. Tyler Brampton, Alex Moss and Gael Kileba returned.

From the off Hashtag were on the front foot, playing the conditions well, with a fast paced and direct game. It was, however, Grays who had the first attempt, as Denim Nnamudi went close from 20 yards following Gael Kileba's centre.

But, not surprisingly, it was the Tags who opened the scoring on 11 minutes. A long free kick and a good contest in the air saw the ball dropping to their skipper, Jason Ring, who forced the ball home from close range.

Hashtag were always looking to move at pace, with throw ins especially being launched quickly before Blues were in position. Their shooting was often first time, not needing several touches to get the ball under control. Sam Park hit a first-time effort from 25 yards that rippled the side netting and then Mackenzie Drew had to be alert to turn a volley from Harrison Day, around the post.

Grays worked hard to limit the damage, but on 34 minutes were undone by another set piece. Another blocked shot went for a corner on the left and from the kick, Nathan Wilson easily headed home at the back post. In response, Matt Price tried his luck from range, but was off target.

Tags poured forward again and Ring could have added a third from yet another set piece, this time to the near post, but headed over, before Drew made a fine save, this time from a Bilal Sayoud volley. The half time whistle brought an end to a half dominated by the visitors.

Blues came out in the second half and within seconds of the restart, skipper Lewis Clark was in the referee's notebook for dissent. He was followed 90 seconds later by Matt Price for a misjudged challenge for a high ball.

Rob Harvey was replaced by Sam Wade, playing closer to Matt and this shifted momentum in Grays' favour. From a free kick out of the left wing, Alex Moss went in bravely and got enough on it for Sam Wade to recycle the ball to Denim Nnamudi who found the bottom right corner passed Joe Whitney's dive.

Remarkably, Grays were back in it, although it needed a superb clearance from Lewis Clark to keep it at 2-1, after Day had looked certain to score. Drew then denied Tags' top scorer, Ellis Devereux, with yet another good save.

However, now it wasn't all one- way traffic. A lovely one touch move down the right saw Denim on the end of a lunging challenge from Thomas Anderson. The assistant flagged, but the referee played the advantage. At the next stoppage in play, the referee seemed to have forgotten the foul and failed to issue the yellow card. He did though book Gael Kileba for dissent after Grays had won another free kick.

On 65 minutes, there was a debut off the bench for Callum Burkey, replacing Connor Hogan who had picked up a thigh injury. Grays were pressing higher now searching for an equaliser, but in truth, without working Joe Whitney in Hashtag's goal. Unfortunately, any revival was nipped in the bud on 74 minutes as Mackenzie's delayed clearance was charged down giving Sam Park a chance that he calmly tucked away for 1-3. The goal galvanised Hashtag and deflated Grays.

A good move involving Sam and Denim saw Callum head over the bar, before Hashtag firmly closed the door. On 88 minutes a fine pass released sub, Praise Ogbebor down the right and he finished high into the net for 4-1. Finally, salt was rubbed into the wound in the second minute of injury time as another break down the right saw an unselfish pass to Devereux who had an open goal, to score Tags' 5th.

For Blues it was a fifth straight defeat and with Canvey winning on Tuesday night, they have dropped into the bottom four.

Grays Ath: Drew, Brampton, Joynes, Moss, L.Clark, Hogan (66, Burkey), Kileba (79, Adams), Moncur, Harvey (53, Wade), Nnamudi, M.Price. Subs not used : Chapps, Sammons.

Grays travel to North East Essex this weekend to play Little Oakley in what will be their first ever meeting with "The Acorns".