Walthamstow 2, Grays Athletic 1

GRAYS found themselves on the losing side of an Isthmian North clash on Tuesday evening (18 August), that could have gone either way.

The visitors were in upbeat mode after Saturday's season-opening win but Stow won it late on to secure the three points.

The first half was not the most entertaining half of football you've ever seen, which saw Stow and Grays both searching for the opener.

Grays went close when winger Gael Kileba managed to run through the whole Stow defence and put a cross towards the back post which was eventually cleared away and saw Stow hit on the counter attack.

Ozzy Adeniji's cross found Joden Trickett unmarked in the penalty area with his header seeming to land in the bottom right hand corner, but it was clawed away by Blues goalkeeper Daniel Sambridge.

Stow came even closer on the half hour mark when Joden Trickett's effort from distance rattled against the crossbar and was cleared away.

On the stroke of half time, Stow found the first goal of the evening. Trickett picked up the ball outside the area and his strike found the bottom corner with goalkeeper Sambridge getting nowhere near it to give Stow the lead.

The second half continued with Stow on the front foot, and they came close to finding a second right after the break. Luke Warner-Eley's cross found Jack Empson unmarked in the box who headed just wide of the post.

Out of nothing, Grays found the equaliser with a brilliant goal. Substitute Denim Nnamudi found himself outside the area and rifled the ball off the bar and into the net to level the game.

Despite the setback, Stow were hungry for more and hit the woodwork themselves. Elijah Grant powered through the Grays defence and his strike managed to hit the post and roll out to Luke Warner-Eley. He sent the ball back into the box towards Ali Njie who made a darting run but headed well over the bar.

Stow eventually found what would be the winner with six minutes from time. Substitute Nathaniel Orafu played an immaculate through ball to Zion Dos Santos Sinclair who calmly slotted home through the legs of the goalkeeper to regain Stow's advantage.