Newmarket Town 1, Grays Athletic 1

GRAYS Athletic travelled to in-form Newmarket on Saturday (7 March), looking to build on their recent upturn in form and found themselves embroiled in a hard-fought and often tetchy Isthmian North affair, that was definitely not one for the purist.

The level of officiating certainly didn't help and at the end of the day, a point away from home was a good afternoon's work.

Over the 90 minutes there were few clear-cut chances for either side. Both sought to get the ball up the pitch quickly but the defences were largely in control and neither keeper was worked too hard.

Grays though had the early opportunities. Gabriel Chapps put a free kick just over the bar after only three minutes and soon after, home keeper James Young had to be quick out of his area to beat an on-rushing Aron Gordon to the ball.

Attention then turned to the other end with two chances for the speedy Jahkyah Ebanks-Blake. His first attempt was readily held by George Marsh in the Grays goal and then he did the hard work inside the area to create space for himself, but shot wide.

Blues broke the deadlock just before the half hour with their best move of the game. Guy Norton found Gabriel Chapps inside the box with an accurate through ball, and he squared for Aron Gordon to side foot calmly into the net.

But the lead didn't last long. A long, high punt downfield wasn't dealt with by the Grays back line and the Newmarket attack took control of the ball, with the chance falling to Louis Jenkins who finished well to bring the scores level.

It was after this that the game started to get somewhat out of control, with referee Oliver Potter not producing a very magical performance, with some inconsistent decision-making and a flurry of yellow cards.

Paul Joynes' post match view:-

The second half became mired in a battle, with not much quality football to report. That said, these are the types of games that not long back Blues might have been bullied out of , but this current iteration of the team is made of sterner stuff.

Newmarket created a couple of half chances. Ebanks-Blake shot straight at Marsh and Ben Robinson hit the side netting. For Grays, a Chapps snapshot was kept out by Young. George Marsh then made the save of the afternoon, when a home corner fell to Ebanks-Blake and his close-range shot was heading in until Marsh got down low by his post to push the ball out.

Tackles continued to fly and Judah Tawiah escaped with a yellow for a rash challenge by the corner flag before, late on, Charlie Stimson was shown a red card, adjudged to be the last man, when holding back Ebanks-Blake. Given that the offence was on the half way line, it might have been a harsh call.

But Blues held on for the remaining few minutes to take a point back down the M11. After the game, interim manager, Paul Joynes was pleased with the way that the squad had adapted to the changes he and Mitch Hahn were looking to implement and delighted at the determination to hold onto the point and not let Newmarket back into the game.

Grays Ath : Marsh, Tawiah, Martin, Walker, Clark, Stimson, Norton (60, Hepburn), Shelvey (85, Hope), Chapps, Blower (46, Paxman), Gordon (61, Wade). Sub not used : Remi-Dee

Blues go again on Tuesday evening (10 March), at home to play-off chasing Wroxham in a re-arranged fixture.

After the match Grays announced that Elliott Sartorius has left the club by mutual consent.