Blues get first win that sets up optimism for Bank Holiday Monday derby

Grays Athletic 1, Sporting Bengal United 0

GRAYS produced their first Isthmian North win of the season on Saturday (24 August) in a match fought out in wet and windy conditions that won't live long in the memory.

However, Blues fans will hope it is a turning point after a sluggish start to the season.

Manager Darren Manning gave a first start to Louis Remi and brought Alex Moss back into the defence and in the opening exchanges it looked as if the line-up would pay.

Grays were finding a lot of space in midfield and able to run through with the ball. Makaki Toussaint was getting heavily involved and in the first few minutes he set up the opening chance for Louis Remi and then had a long-range shot of his own - before Sporting Bengal's first opportunity through Joe Gregory went wide of the post.

Matas Skarna was linking up well with Aron Gordon down the left and they combined well and the latter's cross just evaded Remi loitering in front of goal.

On the half hour, Gordon went on one of his jinking runs and let fly from distance, which keeper Sidi Haidara did well to palm out of the six yard box. But the best chance of the half fell to the visitors' full back Yassine Kachi who found himself free at the back post and was only denied by Danny Sambridge's outstretched leg.

And just before the break, Sambridge had to atone for his own poor clearance, when he managed to prevent a combination of Freddie Tandon and Jay Knight from bundling the ball over the line.

The second half offered the fans little more in excitement than the first.

Grays had a couple of half chances that Remi and Luke Hirst were unable to convert. But just after the hour mark, the game turned. Elliott Sartorius hooked the ball forward from the halfway line and Louis Remi ran through into the penalty area and was brought down by a bundle of defenders. Sartorius was the man for the moment and he buried the spot kick with aplomb for a 1-0 lead.

For the following ten minutes, Blues looked to press home their advantage. A Skarna cross was handballed just outside the area and Sartorius' free kick was well saved by Haidara and then Luke Hirst broke free but again the keeper came to the visitors' rescue.

As the clock ticked down, the Blues defence dropped ever deeper, inviting Sporting Bengal on. But the back line held firm, with Alex Moss putting in a man of the match performance - being a calming presence amongst some frantic defending.

At the other end, sub George Craddock almost benefitted from a mix up between Sporting Bengal keeper and team-mates, when he just failed to put it on a plate for fellow replacement Bobby Unwin. And Hirst had another chance but he was crowded out before he could get his shot away.

At the end of the day, Blues fans went home with three points in their pocket if not filled with joy from a frustrating afternoon. Sometimes, it is the outcome that is most important and the squad will hopefully take a great deal of confidence from the win.

They will go into Monday's Bank Holiday fixture at Basildon United (3pm) with renewed confidence.