Grays Athletic finally got their 2025 league programme underway last night, with a trip round the M25 to Waltham Abbey. We saw how good the Abbey were earlier in the season, when they knocked Blues out of the Essex Senior Cup. But Darren Manning used that experience well and set his side up expertly to dent the opponents’ ball playing skills. It was though just one moment towards the end of the game that decided the fixture in favour of the home team.

However, in your correspondent’s opinion (and that of many on the terraces) the game was spoiled by the dreadful performance of referee, Richard Wharton. I am always keen to praise officials in these column where it is earned, which means that the opposite also has to be called out. There was barely a poor tackle in the whole game and yet two players saw red for double bookings; and when yellow cards for dissent started to mount, surely the referee must surely start to wonder whether it is his decision-making that is causing the problems. Fans of both sides were left bemused. It is, of course though, the clubs that will pay heavily for the dissent cautions and have players suspended for a future game. We all deserve better.

The game itself started with Waltham Abbey firmly on the front foot. And in just the third minute, Blues keeper, Danny Sambridge, was forced to tip the ball over the bar from Nathan Koranteng. The home side’s speed and physicality was a challenge to Grays but they had been sent out to absorb the pressure, with debutant Quba Gordon playing a big part in the effort and Matas Skarna tight down the left.

Grays’ first sight of goal on 12 minutes was an audacious long-range chip from Tyler Brampton, seeing home keeper, Bradley Robinson, off of his line. Alejandro Machado then tried his luck from distance and Robinson could only palm the ball round the post. Waltham Abbey looked most dangerous from Koranteng’s set-pieces, whether that was his long throw-ins or sharp dead balls. And they nearly opened the scoring when Luke Deslandes brought a sharp save from Sambridge low down.

As the half went on, Grays slowly took more control of the proceedings. Samir Ali picked the pocket of the home midfield, but Robinson was equal to the shot. And then from a Brampton cross, Machado stole in and hit the upright. Waltham Abbey also remained dangerous and Kymani Thomas tested Sambridge from the edge of the box.

Half time : Waltham Abbey 0 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays came out looking to build on their first half pressure. Kenedi Dariri went on the charge and his shot was deflected just wide, whilst at the other end Aaron Eyoma kept Sambridge alert. But with both sides looking to play entertaining football, Mr Wharton started to challenge both sets of players with some of his decisions, calling out fair challenges as fouls and ignoring the advantage rule. Players, of course, do though have to learn to keep opinions to themselves, but in the heat of battle, it can be difficult.

The deadlock was broken on 72 minutes, when from another Koranteng cross, Blues’ nemesis of more than twenty years, Jason Hallett, stole in and netted - having only been on the pitch for seven minutes (and he then went off injured before the final whistle).
Shortly after, Grays were down to ten men, when Sid Walker saw yellow for the second time (as Mr Wharton saw things) but they kept pressing for the equaliser. Shane Temple, off the bench, produced some fine close control inside the penalty area and home defender Kieron Cathline did his best to help Blues’ cause by nearly putting past his own keeper.

Into injury time, Brampton kept Blues chances alive with a brilliant hooked clearance off the line - before Mr Wharton decided to even things up by showing Lewwis Spence a second yellow in short order, for a relatively innocuous challenge.

Grays will be sorely disappointed not to take something for their efforts on the night against strong opposition, who will surely continue their push at the higher end of the table. The players were applauded off by the travelling faithful but it shows the fine margins that exist in this division this season. Hopefully, results will soon start to match performances.

Final score : Waltham Abbey 1 v 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Sambridge, Brampton, Skarna, Machado, Finneran, Q Gordon, Dariri, Walker, Hirst (73, Temple),, Sartorius (73, A Gordon), Ali (58, Remi)

Subs not used : Carlos, Hoskins