Felixstowe & Walton 5, Grays Athletic 1

GRAYS produced one of their poorest performances of the season on Saturday (20 December) away at Felixstowe & Walton.

While it is clear that the Isthmian North table-topping opponents are among the cream of the division, Blues made it all too easy for the home side to pile up the goals.

Felixstowe came out of the traps fast and put Grays under pressure from the first whistle, although for the first half hour, Blues defended resolutely. The home side should have opened the scoring in just the third minute when Jose de la Paz was too quick for Macca Joynes and his cross was met by Josh Hitter inside the six-yard box but he slid the ball wide. Joynes then took Hitter out just outside the penalty area but the free kick went straight into the defensive wall.

Grays were disrupted early on when Harry Hope had to be replaced by Callum Fitzer. Hitter though continued to cause problems when his dipping shot was fumbled by George Marsh in the Blues goal but Josh Mayhew was adjudged offside as he followed in for the rebound.

Then, the most contentious moment of the afternoon - Fitzer chased a long ball out from the back and late reserve home keeper Jak Tuvey raced out of his area and felled the Blues attacker somewhat cynically, getting nowhere near the ball.

Although there were two defenders in nearby attendance, had Fitzer been allowed to get any sort of shot away, the goal was open. Referee Mr Steven Marr chose, for some reason, to show only a yellow card - Tuvey was a very lucky man, as were Felixstowe with no keeper on the bench.

Grays had their best spell of the match, starting to pass the ball round with increased confidence. Blues won a corner. Fitzer's deadball was not the best but Jordan Clark flicked a header across the box and Jack Stone was on hand to back heal the ball into the net for a shock 1-0 lead.

However, just as last week at Maldon, having gone ahead Blues couldn't hold on. And again, unfortunately, keeper George Marsh was the culprit. A relatively straightforward catch from a long throw was only shovelled behind for a corner, which the keeper was again unable to claim and the ball was bundled over the line by Josh Mayhew, to level things at 1-1.

And it got worse for Blues before half time, but this time the finish from out wide by Ethan Garcia was a fine one, to make it 2-1.

The second half was difficult viewing for the travelling Blues faithful. It was nearly three early on when the ball bounced dangerously around the visitors' penalty area but Noel Aitkens poked his shot just wide.

Grays did though show some fight when Jack Stone chased down Tuvey's clearance but the rebound missed the target and then Michael Bareck and Joe Paxman combined to find Stone at the far post - and despite Blues loud claims the ball stayed stubbornly shy of goal line and upright.

After that though it was the home side that made all the running. A quick free kick found Jose de la Paz out wide, he cut in and shot past the despairing Marsh to make it 3-1 and effectively finish the game as a contest.

When Blues did try to attack, the home defence remained well marshalled, protecting Tuvey from any advance on his goal. When Bareck got a shot through, the keeper spilled the ball but Stone couldn't squeeze the ball home.

Felixstowe's fourth goal was a simple affair. A corner found de la Paz unmarked, leaving him an easy header to make it 4-1.

And with five minutes remaining on the clock, another Marsh fumble presented the ball to Noel Aitkens who made it five on the afternoon.

While Grays may not have traveled to Suffolk expecting to take points back down the A12, this performance was far from what Blues fans expect and at the final whistle, they were rightly disappointed with the outcome.

On the positive side, recent newcomer, Ivan Imasuen looked assured at the back again and debutant loanee, Jack Blower showed some good touches off the bench.

Grays Ath: Marsh, Hope (11, Fitzer), Joynes, Norton (63, Blower), Clark, Imasuen, Sartorius, Shelvey-Negus, Bareck, Paxman, Stone (76, Carvalho Pedro). Sub not used : Nolan-Samuels

Attention now turns to El Chavico after Christmas when Grays take on landlords Tilbury for Thurrock bragging rights at Chadfields.