Play off hopes fade as Grays do the double

A pretty dire game between two teams with an extremely slim chance of making the Ryman Premier league play offs, ended with the away side taking home the three points and completing the double over Lewes, effectively ending their chances of making a late run for promotion.

The game was incredibly flat with both teams looking tired, something they better get used to with fixtures coming quick and fast. Lewes perhaps had the better chances of the early stages, despite losing the toss and being forced to face the sun for the first half. 

Luke Blewden had a chance after a witty run by Nick Wheeler saw Blewden through on goal before the Grays impressive number four salmon dived at the ball on the floor to put Blewden off his stride. 

It was Blewden again, guilty of wasting chances when, this time Brinkhurst fed him the ball on the right hand side, only for Blewden to nearly smash the ball out of the ground from a tight angle. Both teams were persistent in trying a long ball game, Lewes in particular having a tough time with it, Blewden having to feed off scraps, playing up front on his own. 

Grays took the lead through their first meaningful attack when they played down the right hand side, beating Sam Gore and dinking the ball across the box, where it was met with a glancing header in to the bottom left hand corner, beyond Banks, by Joao Carlos. 

The goal briefly sparked some life in to Grays who then quickly won a corner, forcing Banks in to a diving save. The corner fell well for them and a back heeled attempt also forced another save from Banks, this time a bit more comfortable. 

No one had a particularly good game first half, but Jay Lovett was having a torrid time, summed up when Grays launched the ball forward from the back. The ball was heading straight to Banks, however Lovett felt the need to chest the ball beyond the Lewes keeper and out for a corner. 

Fans of both sides were probably hoping their team would come out with a bit more fight in them for the second half, however it wasn’t to be and for the first twenty minutes or so the game was at its worst point with nothing of note happening. 

The introduction of Jack Maloney, replacing the worn out Steve Brinkhurst woke Lewes up a bit. The Portsmouth loanee made some decent runs on the ball, looking very strong and skillful, giving an edge to Lewes’s game. However, not long after coming on, Maloney was booked for taking a tumble in the Grays penalty area, despite the fact that he got straight back up and did not appeal for a penalty at all. 

The best effort of the game came in the second half when left back Sam Gore saw the ball cleared after a corner, fall directly to him on the edge of the box. Gore hit the ball on the full volley, at first it looked as though the ball would go miles over, similar to a couple of efforts by Sam Crabb and Luke Blewden. The ball dipped right at the last minute, forcing the keeper to tip the ball over the bar, in a chance that would easily have been goal of the season. 

Lewes kicked on in the last ten minutes, but it was not enough. They were perhaps lucky not to see Jay Lovett sent off, after the referee ruled he had brought down a Grays player on the edge of the box who appeared to be through on goal. 

Despite a little bit of pressure on the Grays goal near the end of the game, there were no clear cut chances and Grays held on to win 1-0 and pick up three valuable away points.