THIS EVENING’S MATCH PREVIEW – GRAYS ATHLETIC (HOME) ROBERT DYAS CUP

The first of two cup games this week as Dulwich Hamlet welcome Grays Athletic to Champion Hill for this Isthmian League Cup tie.

Newly reformed as a Supporter owned Community Football Club, Grays Athletic have endured some turbulent times since their heyday in the noughties as founder members and inaugural champions of Conference South back in 2004/2005. Just five years later, following relegation from the Conference National, they found themselves unable to field a team at Conference South level due to budget constraints. After resigning from the Conference and following talks with both the FA and the Ryman League, the club were placed in the Ryman League Division One North. This also saw the end of over a century of football at the Recreation Ground in Grays as the expiry of the lease forced them to vacate their perennial home. Ground shares at East Thurrock United, Rush Green, former home of Ford United in partnership with West Ham before settling on their current base at Aveley whilst they await plans for a new ground to come to fruition.

Grays battled their way back to the Isthmian League Premier Division, winning the Division One North in 2012/2013. With just 4 league defeats, and a run of form in the second half of the season which brought with it 18 successive league wins, the Blues clinched the title with three matches to spare, finishing with a club record 102 points. Two days after the title was secured, Grays had the chance to complete the double, however they fell just short in the Essex Senior Cup final, losing 2-1 to Conference South side AFC Hornchurch.

Last season proved an interesting on for Grays supporters, challenging early on for honours but following the departure of number of key players late in the season, slipping off the pace to finish in 15th spot. The current season has proved equally frustrating with Grays having registered just one win in their 7 games so far finding themselves currently occupying the last relegation spot but just two wins shy of Needham Market in the last playoff place. Opening day saw Lheureux Menga’s 69th minute equaliser secure a point away to Leatherhead, the same player on target four days later but this time the goal but a consolation as Grays went down 3-1 at home to newly promoted AFC Sudbury. Back at The Mill Field the following Saturday, the Blues found themselves coming from behind once more as James Fraser gave visiting Bognor Regis Town an early lead. This time the saviour proved to be Adeyinka Cole who converted a second half penalty to ensure a share of the spoils. Cole found the net again away to all-conquering Leiston in midweek but much too little, much too late the hosts having built up a 4-0 lead by the time Cole found the net in stoppage time.

The Bank Holiday weekend sent Grays off to the Sussex coast and Worthing, where finally the Blues registered their maiden victory of the campaign David Fallah netting on 68 minutes whilst the defence held firm against everything the Mackerels could throw at them. At home on the Monday Grays looked to on course for a full swag bag of Bank Holiday bonuses, goals from Menga and Etienne Mukanya Kabobola in the space of five second half minutes turning the game on its head after Tyrell Miller-Rodney had put the Swans ahead after 23 minutes. However, with just two minutes of normal time remaining Daniel Brown popped up to deny Grays back-to-back wins.

A trip back to Leiston for the FA Cup First Qualifying Round must have been filled with trepidation given the Suffolk Blues still maintained their 100% record. However, when Fallah struck first after 19 minutes, hope must have blossomed in Grays hearts. It was not to be. Jack Ainsley levelled seven minutes before halftime and with Byron Lawrence, Matt Blake and Gareth Heath adding three further second half goals, the FA Cup dream was gone like summer lightning. The return to Ryman League action last Saturday proved just as traumatising with Merstham hammering SIX past a shell-shocked Grays Athletic. The Dulwich Old Boys were out in force with Marc-Anthony Okoye opening the scoring and Xavier Vidal scoring twice in the second half adding to goals from Dan Hector, Dan Bennett and Alex Addai with Fallah’s goal at the start of the second half the only ray of light on a dismal day for the Blues.

This evening’s game takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD, kicking off at 7.45pm. As this is a cup game unfortunately season tickets do not apply but Dulwich Hamlet have agreed with Grays Athletic and the Ryman League for half price admission.

Admission prices:

• £5 for Adults
• £2 for Concessions
• NB: Concessions cover Seniors - 60+, Teenagers (13-19), Unemployed (JSA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), NHS Staff, Blue Light Services, Serving Members of the Armed Forces and Full Time Students. (Please bring a form of valid ID for your concession as you might not be admitted without that)
• Under 13s FREE accompanied by a paying adult

Programmes: £1