Grays Athletic 1, Shefford Town and Campton3

DESPITE making the better start and dominating the opening exchanges of this second qualifying round match, Grays ultimately came out second best in most departments and bowed out of the FA Cup in front of a crowd of 220 at Parkside this afternoon (Saturday, 17 September)

They were undone by a side from a rung below in the non-League pyramid and graciously conceded at the end of the match that the better team on the day won.

The match began with a minute's silence and the playing of the National Anthem as a mark of respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II and tribute to King Charles III.

Once the match started it looked as if Shefford were still contemplating mourning and they were stretched and on the back foot as Grays won a series of free kicks and corners but they all came to nothing and visiting keeper Kyle Foster wasn't really troubled, other than one effort he pushed over the bar.

However, as often happens, with their dominance not being translated into a lead Grays gradually slipped onto the back foot and it was Shefford who took the lead on 36 minutes through Sam Day.

Grays got back on level terms with a penalty from Anointed Chuku two minutes into the second half but the giant-killers were not to be denied.

The rather large and somewhat agricultural looking centre forward Henry Snee showed its not what you look like but what you do that matters when he put his side ahead on the hour and Charlie Thake ended all hopes of a Grays comeback with a last minute third.