Newmarket 4, Grays Athletic 0

GRAYS Athletic made another Isthmian North visit to Suffolk on Saturday (3 October) this time to Newmarket, the home of horse racing, but came up well short.

It was an all-round, very poor display that left the travelling faithful looking for answers on how this group of players, some with real pedigree, could produce such a disappointing showing.

In the close season, Newmarket installed an excellent 3G pitch and they showed Grays how to use it to its fullest extent - keeping the ball on the ground with short, crisp passing, making space between the lines and closing down quickly. Blues simply failed to match them in any of these.

The home side started very brightly and in just the second minute, Ben Robinson tried his luck from distance, not missing the target by much. But it wasn't long before the Jockeys took the lead. Taylan Kilinc made ground down the left wing and his cross was met by the unmarked Elliott Reeves, who had the simple task of heading home.

Grays could have been level soon after, Jordan Clark's athletic attempt from a corner going just over the bar - but that was really about as good as it got for Grays in the first half.

As time wore on, Newmarket became ever more dominant with their slick passing and teamwork. That said, the second goal on 26 minutes came courtesy of a wretched decision by referee Joshua Evans, who penalised Oli Muldoon for handball in the penalty area, when his arm was down and the ball struck from only a yard or two away. What can any player from any side do in those circumstances?

Ryan Cole just evaded Blues keeper Mackenzie Drew with the spot kick, to make it 2-0.

That said, it was no surprise when, on the half hour, the home side extended their lead further. Robinson was given the freedom of the right wing and crossed for Reeves to get his second and Newmarket's third of the afternoon - no less than they deserved.

It was as poor a half as any Grays fan could remember for a long time - devoid of passion, commitment and strategy.

Blues manager Mitch Hahn, rang the changes, seeking any kind of improved performance. And it nearly paid a very quick return when one of the subs, Gabriel Chapps, twisted and turned in the box, with his shot beating home keeper, James Young but rebounding off the upright.

But the home side were in no mood to release their stranglehold on the game. Macca Joynes blocked bravely from Cole before Kilinc was allowed to run through the Grays defence to net a fourth for the Jockeys. Theo Goddard almost added a fifth but rattled the woodwork.

The one bright spot for Grays was the sight of a cameo debut for centre forward Brandon Adams after a long period of recuperation from injury. He set up a chance for Chapps that went just wide and his performance showed something of the skill fans have all been waiting for.

Late on, both sides missed presentable chances, Emmanuel Osei-Owusu firing wide for Newmarket and Gael Kileba doing similarly for Blues.

But in truth, Grays were outplayed by Newmarket in every department and the home side thoroughly deserved the three points. Blues fans continue to travel in numbers but there is clear discontentment with the gap between expectation and performance.

Grays Ath : Drew, Harvey (46, Harvey), Joynes, Moncur, L. Clark, Hogan, F.Price, Muldoon (46, Kileba), Nnamudi (33, Chapps), M. Price (72, Adams), J. Clark (56, Moss).

Things won't get any easier on Wednesday night (7 October) when Grays are at home at the EMR Stadium, Chadfields, and welcome Isthmian League North leaders Hashtag United.