Grays Athletic 1, Witham Town 4

GRAYS were unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup with a disappointing home performance at Chadfields this afternoon (Sunday, 18 August).

Blues fans have seen little success in the most prestigious of cup competitions in recent seasons and though hopes were raised with an impressive extra-preliminary round win against Hullbridge Sports they crashed and burned against stronger opposition in fellow Isthmian North Witham, who are coached by Gary Kimble who cut his management teeth at Tilbury two decades ago.

His latest spell as Witham boss has seen a great start to the season and he returned to the EMR Stadium with a team that had three competitive wins under their belt already.

And they carried that confidence into a compelling start and almost almost took the lead in spectacular style when they saw an overhead kick go just over the hosts' goal.

Grays did have a good chance but Aron Gordon's effort was beaten out by keeper Harry Fairs.

The visitors' opening goal came just after the half hour from Anton Matthews who got on the end of a corner to head home from close range and within ten minutes Joshua Olaoluwa Osude had doubled Witham's advantage with an unstoppable effort beyond home keeper Daniel Sambridge.

Home hopes were raised five minutes into first half stoppage time when a penalty, awarded for a contentious handball and converted by Elliott Sartorius, lifted spirits but it proved to be a false dawn for the majority of the crowd of 311.

Witham maintained a grip of possession and the game on the restart and a third Town goal came from Luke Ige on 67 minutes. His close range header was not dissimilar to Osude's opener.

And Osude's second two minutes into stoppage time when he picked himself up and converted a penalty after being fouled nailed the coffin down on Blues cup ambitions again.

Grays are back in Isthmian North action next Saturday when they entertain Sporting Bengal United.