Victory away at Grays

A very chilly night down at Aveley to see the first team take on ground sharing Grays... who could ask more from a Wednesday night.
A surprise inclusion in the first team starting line up was Alfie Adams. With Kyle Cassell under the weather, Alfie was drafted into the squad late morning. Millwall (MWAH) fan Adams had bagged 4 goals after coming off the bench at half time for the U18's the previous evening.
Peculiarly lining up for Grays was AFC Sudbury Academy player Sam Girling.
While the game kicked off and Sudbury immediately took the ascendancy, Musa & Theresa Altintop were circling the M25 still looking for the ground. Their son, Baris, wasn't lost however, he was rampaging down the left and getting the ball into the box, driving into dangerous areas.
A Callum Harrison corner on 4 minutes was steered home on the volley by Adam bailey Dennis for his 2nd goal of the season and we were off and running. Chances came and went, Benno driving at the Grays rearguard and getting time and space down the right. On 20 minutes the lead was doubled when Tom Maycock was set clear. Tom's goal scoring touch seems to have deserted him a little of late and rather than head for goal, he drew the keeper out wide before reversing the ball to Callum Harrison who certainly lacks no confidence at all in front of goal and his curling chipped finish from 25 yards dropped just inside the far post. Love it! That's Cal's 8th goal of the season.
Alfie Adams went close to a third after beating the keeper to a through ball down the left but bearing down on goal his right foot effort was deflected just wide for a corner. To be fair it wouldn't have been a travesty had we gone in at the break 4 or 5 up. As it was on the stroke of half time we conceded. Lewis O'Malley heading past his own keeper.. Paul Walker of course. Not sure how it happened.. will be reviewing that particular nightmare moment soon and it will be on Sudbury TV later on along with the rest of the match highlights.
The second half was a different matter entirely. Grays were lifted by the goal and came at us. Our slick passing game was not quite there anymore and we stopped getting the freedom we had previously down the flanks.
We could and should still have made the second half a lot easier on the heart rate. Ethan Mayhew, on for the injured Tom Dettmar, headed just over on the stretch, Tom Maycock when gloriously positioned snatched at a shot that should have killed the game off and there were other moments that we just failed to take full advantage of. One more goal would surely kill it off... one more goal didn't arrive.
Callum Harrison while galloping through was sliced down with a very late challenge by Grays Steve King who saw red for his misdemeanour. I think Joe Grimwood should get an assist for that red card after leaving a little something on the Grays man seconds beforehand and obviously leaving his blood somewhat boiling he appeared to take the first opportunity at retribution, that being the sight of a rampant Harrison bursting through the Grays rearguard.
Surely that would be enough, a numerical advantage to see us through to the final whistle. Grays piled on the pressure during the second half. Not continuously but they had flashes where they really did cause us problems. Paul Walker tipping a venomous volley against the bar, another fantastic effort smashing the far post and then Benno and Maycock clearing off the line in the dying seconds.
You gotta love a night like this... unless of course you are still circling the M25 trying to find the ground