GRAYS Athletic missed out on the chance this evening (Wednesday, 19 April) to lay hands on one of the most handsome trophies in non-League football.

However, as one door closed, another opportunity lies in their grasp this coming weekend to seal a place in the Isthmian North promotion play-offs.

Grays went down 3-2 in an entertaining Thameside Trophy final this evening at the Len Salmon Stadium, the home of Bowers and Pitsea who were able to lift the trophy and alleviate some of their disappointment after being relegated from the Isthmian Premier to the Isthmian North.

Grays now have the chance to make the journey in the opposite direction. A win for Grays in their last match of the season at Parkside this weekend will ensure their place in the play-offs because the sides in fourth and fifth – Felixstowe and Walton United and Heybridge Swifts respectively – meet. After Felixstowe's 2-0 win at Witham this evening, they and Heybridge are both on 69 points, the same as Grays who are in sixth.

So whatever the outcome at Felixstowe on Saturday, three points for Grays will be enough to seal their play-off spot. And a draw against Hullbridge would still be enough if there is a positive outcome of the Felixstowe v Heybridge clash.

But there will still have been a sense of disappointment this evening as Grays went down in the Essex FA invitation charity cup, particularly as Bowers played most of the match without a regular goalkeeper.

Starting keeper Joseph Osaghee lasted just 11 minutes before he injured an ankle making a save and outfield player Oscar Shelvey-Negus came off the bench to don the gloves.

Bowers lift the Thameside Trophy

However, it was to be Bowers who took the lead on 21 minutes when Dexter Peter flicked a corner into the danger area and Valckx Fernandez fired home.

The lead last until the half hour when Grays got back on level terms, through Aron Gordon who raced through and delivered an accomplished finish.

It stayed that way until half time, but Bowers restored the lead six minutes after the restart when Henry Sinai cut inside and smashed home a great strike.

Shelvey-Negus proved his worth with the gloves with a couple of decent saves but he was finally beaten with ten minutes to go when Teddy Jones' shot looped over him into the net.

Both sides threw caution to the wind in the closing stages and it was to be Bowers who grabbed the vital goal with just a minute remaining when Brandon Aveiro skipped inside and fired in a great strike for the winner.

Bowers then held out through four hectic added minutes to take the Trophy.

East Thurrock United's season has been in freefall and this evening they slumped to another defeat, at home to Basildon United.

The Rocks have not won since March and have slipped from being in play-off contention to the bottom half to the division.

They went down 1-0 at Rookery Hill thanks to Shane Temple's 76th minute goal.