Hullbridge Sports 2, Grays Athletic 0

THERE was one superb performance by Grays Ath at Hullbridge on Saturday. It was though from the travelling Blues supporters, who sang and cheered their way throughout the 90 minutes. They can only be applauded. Sadly, what they were saw on the pitch was a horror show from the Blues, who simply failed in every department, handing Hullbridge their first league win since late September.

The early exchanges actually looked quite promising for Grays. In the 10th minute, Danny Sambridge launched a free kick downfield and Malakai Toussaint flicked a header onto the roof of the net. And moments later, Alex Clark had a long-range shot palmed over the crossbar by home keeper, Lewis Greene. Blues were having the majority of the possession but couldn't produce the quality necessary to break down a resolute Hullbridge defence.

The sucker punch came just before the half hour when on a relatively rare foray down the pitch, the diminutive Darius Guinea was allowed space and time at the far post to head home a deep cross, giving Hullbridge a 1-0 lead.

And the home side nearly made it two shortly after, when Sambridge was brought into action to save a George Forest shot from outside the box.

Grays were feeding off scraps. Greene nearly tried to throw one into his own net from an Aron Gordon shot and just before the break, Gordon almost squeezed another attempt between keeper and post from a narrow angle.

What was worrying about Grays' second half performance was that despite long periods of possession and a home side prepared to sit and soak up the pressure, they seemed devoid of any ideas as to how to get themselves back in the game. A host of misplaced passes, possession lost and aimless long balls against a well-organised defence, all showed little of the skill and guile the Blues fans know this squad possesses. Quite simply, the Hullbridge players wanted it more and were prepared to bust a gut to get there. Too many of those in the grey away kit seemed to be just going through the motions.

The arrival of Callum Watts and Sam Bantick off the bench brought some temporary urgency to the proceedings but the sum total was still well below the level required, with no more than a series of half chances to show for their efforts. Greene, in the home goal, had the most untroubled of halves.

The Blues' lack of drive started to generate greater belief in the home side. Just after the hour, that man Guinea broke clear but couldn't beat Sambridge (perhaps the one Grays player to come out of the game in credit). And 15 minutes before the end, Hullbridge put the game to bed, when sub George Smith was left in the clear and he finished calmly for a 2-0 lead and three valuable points for the home side, in their fight to pull clear of the relegation places.

Grays' challenge for honours this season is fast becoming a distant memory. But the fans kept singing.