Blues 3 Grays Athletic 0

New Blues Manager Richard Wilkins got his reign off to a winning start as he followed the record of his two previous predecessors by winning his opening game. The Blues had to do it the hard way as the squad was stretched to the limit with Josh Mayhew pulling up in the warm up joining Patrick Brothers, Tom Bullard, Leon Ottley-Gooch and Tom Winter on the casualty list. Not the ideal preparations for a new Manager but the squad certainly worked their socks off for their new boss. Josh Merritt started his first game for the Blues on the right side of midfield as the home side began defending a very stiff wind. The visitors were soon into their stride and in the opening quarter of an hour had the Blues rearguard defending in numbers as Grays showed tremendous pace in the early exchanges. With just 8 minutes on the clock some great skill from Joao Carlos opened up the Blues defence on the left but his pull back to Dumebi Dumaka saw the Grays striker blaze his effort high over the bar from ten yards. The next chance fell to Mark Bentley on 17 minutes but his free header from a right wing corner was headed off the line and from the resulting corner Danny Gay made a fine point blank save through a ruck of players. It was all Grays but as we reached the midway point of the half the hosts came into the game. Conor Hubble saw a cross-cum-shot pushed out at full stretch by Connor Gough and then the Blues opened the scoring on 25 minutes. Conor Hubble did well to regain possession on the right and fed Gareth Heath who skipped across the area before finding Craig Parker whose early shot from the edge of the box beat Connor Gough low to his left. Four minutes later Grays had the ball in the net but play was brought back for a foul on Danny Gay as the tempo failed to relent. A fine saving tackle from John Glowacki denied Gareth Heath as he burst into the box onto Conor Hubble’s fine pass and then on 37 minutes Leiston doubled their advantage from the spot. Joe Francis teased John Glowacki into a foul just inside the box and Gareth Heath confidently stroked the penalty home low to the keepers left.

Deservedly ahead at the break the hosts had the added bonus of the wind on their backs for the second half and the half was only four minutes old when Joe Jefford tested Connor Gough with a low drive from 25 yards. Despite the two goal deficit Grays always remained a threat and the lively Joao Carlos, who scored in both games against the Blues last season, provided yet more skill down the flank to present Dumebi Dumaka with an opportunity but he miss-cued and the chance was cleared. It proved costly as seconds later Leiston added a third. Scott Mitchell held off two challenges in central midfield before a fine pass released Conor Hubble down the right wing whose early cross found the unmarked Gareth Heath who had time to place his header across Connor Gough for his tenth goal of the season. The goal not only knocked the wind out of the visitors sails but also the game itself as the pace dropped for the first time. Whilst play continued to switch to either end neither goal was rarely troubled. The hosts lost Craig Parker to what looked like a hamstring injury as the game entered the final quarter of an hour. Leiston continued to frustrate Grays with some excellent defending and high work rate as they battled to their first clean sheet at home since late August while the last action of the game saw Conor Hubble force Connor Gough into a flying save as Richard Wilkins kicked off his tenure in the hot seat with a win.

FT – Blues 3 Grays Athletic 0

Blues line up – Gay, Saker, Boardley, Mitchell, Jefford, Tann, Merritt, Heath, Hubble, Parker (Noy 63 mins), Francis. Subs not used – Mayhew and Rossis.

Goals – Craig Parker 25 mins, Gareth Heath (p) 37 mins and 60 mins (Leiston)

Man of the Match – Conor Hubble

Attendance - 190