My latest pre season match saw me over at Lower Road to see Hullbridge Sports take on Grays Athletic.
Sports had suffered to heavy home defeats in their previous two friendlies against Bowers & Pitseaand AFC Hornchurch and Grays Athletic would be another stern test of the hosts resolve.
Grays themselves are building up for a crack at the Bostick North title this season after making some rather decent signings and also managing to hold onto Kieran Bishop up front was also a massive bonus for the club who want to bounce straight back up into the Bostick Premier.
And the opening exchanges suggested a another tough evening for the home side as Grays created three terrific chances in the opening quarter hour but saw the visitors fail to capitalise on these openings.
Grays continued to dominate and apply pressure to the Hullbridge back line but solid defending kept the visitors at bay, and after a opening for the hosts the game began to become more even as the half entered it’s latter stages.
The half ended goal less though, a half that saw the visitors create the better chances but saw the hosts become more and more competitive as the half had gone on.
The opening fifteen minutes of the second period began with both sides looking to get forward but the visitors always looked the likelier to break the deadlock and on the hour mark won a penalty after a foul, which looked a rather soft decision, and Ade Cole stepped up to chip the ball beyond the keeper and give the Blues the lead.
The hosts reacted well to going behind although the visitors still looked fairly comfortable although the hosts were screaming for a penalty after what looked like a foul inside the box, however this fell on deaf ears as the hosts tried to find a leveller.
But with seven minutes remaining the Blues sealed the win when I Kiernan Hughes-Mason beat a defender and slotted home and then five minutes after Hughes-Mason added another when drilling home into the bottom corner superbly and capping a decent performance for his side.
So another defeat for the hosts who have yet to score a goal, they came close near the end, seeing an effort cleared off the line, but they would be happy with this effort and was a big improvement from their previous outing.
For Grays it was also a useful work-out and a decent solid display from Jamie Stuarts side who will no doubt be title contenders in the coming season.
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