Grays Athletic 3, Takeley 0

BLUES manager Darren Manning will be delighted to start the league campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 win over newly promoted Takeley.

With Lewis and Jordan Clark, Sid Walker and Sam Bantick all unavailable and influential forwards, Luke Hirst and Aron Gordon recovering from injuries suffered in pre-season and only fit enough for the bench, Darren reshuffled the pack.

Casey Nolan-Samuels started in a wide right position and Kye Jude came in at centre half alongside David Romer. Joe Paxman and Oscar Shelvey-Negus took on the centre midfield roles behind Harry Hope and Callum Fitzer. New father Jayden Silcott-Brown started wide left. Tyler Brampton, captaining the side, and Macca Joynes started at full back.

It was also good to see the returning Joe Gardner on the bench; an experienced forward who links up play so wel

The first 20 minutes were very cagey as the two sides felt one another out. Both goalkeepers were in more danger of sunburn than having a decent shot to save.

That changed after 23 minutes as Silcott-Brown ran down the left but looked to have reached a dead end. However he found a low cross which Casey Nolan-Samuels reached before his marker and dispatched expertly under keeper Jarvis Monk for 1-0.

The goal settled Grays down and they could easily have doubled their lead. Nolan-Samuels was enjoying himself and played two lovely passes inside the box which could've led to shots on target, but didn't. That sort of sharpness will come with more competitive games.

Silcott-Brown did have the ball in the net, beating the onrushing keeper, Monk, with an excellent lob, but was denied by the assistant's flag for a very marginal offside.

Harry Hope was also bossing things and his low ball across the box was flicked up by Casey looking for Callum Fitzer. The ball clearly hit the arm of Takeley's centre half, George Pullen, in a less than natural position and a spot kick was awarded.

Fitzer stepped up and Chloe Kelly style, smashed it into the top corner for 2-0, just before half time.

Into the second half and there was bound to be a response from Takeley. With Grays backing off, they enjoyed their best spell of possession in the entire match. Ex-Blue Jordan Westcott was covering a lot of ground and driving his team on. However, Grays back four looked very strong with the indomitable Kye Jude and the classy David Romer in commanding form, well supported by the experienced Tyler Brampton and Macca Joynes out wide.

As is often the way, the first time Grays attacked meaningfully in the second half, they scored. On 63 minutes, Hope again received the ball high up and played a perfect pass out to the right to Silcott-Brown. Jayden dug out a chip which floated over Monk into the far corner for 3-0.

Then Hope tried his luck from distance with a powerful effort that was just off target and Jude so nearly got the goal he deserved after beating the keeper to a tasty Joynes free kick, but heading inches over.

Takeley at last managed to get some crosses into the box.

One from Lewis Wicker was just too far ahead of Joe Pullen. John Clarke's long throws had been a feature of the game and from one of these Joe Pullen hooked the ball over his shoulder and against the bar. It was the only scare for George Marsh who dominated his box and looked confident all afternoon.

So Grays got that all important first league win on the board, using their squad well. The difference between the teams was in both boxes. Grays were clinical in front of goal, scoring with 3 of their first 4 attempts. Takeley's neat approach play was not matched by their final pass.

Catch Darren Manning's verdict here:-

Takeley can take plenty of learning from the game and will need to do so quickly as their next home league games are against two of this season's favourites, Waltham Abbey and Maldon and Tiptree.

Grays have a tough assignment away at Redbridge on Monday evening.

Goal videos by Kevin James.