Grays Athletic 0, AFC Sudbury 2

GRAYS were unable to keep their winning run going at home on Saturday (31 October) after conceding two goals in a frantic five minutes midway through the first half.

That aside, Blues continued to show progress under interim manager, Lewis Clark. But it was one of those matches where the ball just would not cross the line for Grays, despite every effort.

The Isthmian North match started at a frantic pace with both sides looking to attack.

Sudbury had the first attempt when a long range effort from Charlie Oxborrow required a great triple save from Blues keeper, Ayaz Kazi - parrying out the original effort, pushing the ball away and then diving on the loose ball with attackers arriving fast. Clark then made a great block to deny Kaiden Tower-King.

At the other end, it looked as if Sudbury full back, Jacob Goredema had unceremoniously wrestled Matt Price to the ground inside the penalty box but referee Mr Wright was unimpressed. Sam Wade found himself in space and shot across the goal but the ball went agonisingly wide of the far post.

Sudbury should have taken the lead when Oxborrow's cross was met by an unmarked Reuben Chinnery but somehow he managed to head the ball well wide of the goal.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Blues. Just after the 20 minute mark, the ball found its way out wide to Tower-King and, cutting in, his shot was too powerful for Kazi to keep out, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. And it was soon 2-0 when the Blues defence failed to clear a cross properly and the ball fell to Eddie Barker on the edge of the box and he rifled the ball home.

The game then got rather bogged down in a midfield battle, with Sudbury looking to take the sting out of things and Blues unable to find a smooth rhythm to create a clear opening. Just before the break, A Gabriel Chapps free kick created some panic in the visitors' penalty area but Sudbury were eventually happy to hack the ball away.

Most of the second half followed the pattern of Grays attacking and Sudbury defending stoutly and in a very well-organised fashion.

And it was their keeper, Finley Iron, who made the real difference between the two sides. Firstly, he made a fine low-down save from Matt Price, who seemed sure to score from inside the six-yard box. And then an even better stop after a Connor Hogan long throw found its way across to Freddie Price, whose header seemed sure to reduce the deficit, only for the flying Iron arriving to push the ball away from danger.

Moments later a cross from Freddie Price created pandemonium in the Sudbury area with the ball ping-ponging around the goal line and bodies all over the place. But somehow the ball just wouldn't go into the net. It really summed up Blues' afternoon.

It was only towards the end of the 90 minutes that Sudbury created any real threat on the Grays goal, bringing Ayaz back into the game. Archie Jolland, who was impressive all afternoon for the visitors, shot straight at the keeper before he was tested again by George Chenery.

After the game, Grays interim manager Lewis Clark said he was pleased with the effort shown by his side across the pitch, outside of the five minutes of madness. There is clearly still work to do but there are promising signs of improvement.

Lewis Clark's post match interview:

Grays Ath: Kazi, Brampton, Moss, L.Clark, J.Clark, F Price (86, Morritt), Hogan, Chapps, Burkey, Wade, M Price (68, Kileba). Subs not used : Joynes, Sammons.

Grays are next in Isthmian North action against Mulbarton Wanderers on Saturday, 7 November,