OVERVIEW

THE Blues head to Tilbury on Saturday to face a Grays Athletic side who ground share at Tilbury in Emirates FA Cup First Round Qualifying action writes Craig Cooper.

Leiston’s 4-3 loss to Bury Town on Bank Holiday Monday would have been hard to take as Chris Wigger’s men were just moments away from taking a point before Bury defender Tommy Smith completed his hat-trick with his third headed goal of the game in the 94th minute.

Leiston sit 8th in the early league standings after winning two, drawing two and losing two with the team netting 13 times already.

Grays Athletic are currently 14th in the Isthmian League First Division North, with 4 points from their opening four league games.

On Bank Holiday Monday, they came back from 1-0 and 2-1 down to gain a creditable 2-2 draw at fourth-placed Concord Rangers with Oliver Muldoon and Gabriel Chapps on target for Grays.

In the Emirates FA Cup, they have beaten Hilltop 5-1 and Hutton 2-1, both away from home, with Ned Hepburn netting two goals in the games, while in the FA Trophy they lost went down 4-1 at Canvey Island last weekend.

Leiston will be without keeper Callum Robinson for the tie while Joao Rangel remains out although he is expected to return at Banbury United next Saturday.

Leiston have played Grays Athletic before in the FA Cup, in the same round (First Round Qualifying) on Saturday, 3rd September 2016.

The Blues fell behind to a David Fallah goal before the Blues fought back to win 4-1. Goals from Jack Ainsley, Byron Lawrence, Matt Blake and Gareth Heath helped Leiston go through in front of a crowd of 253. They then defeated South Park and Hungerford Town (both 4-1 and away from home) before losing 2-1 at Westfields in the Fourth Round Qualifying.

BLUES GAMES AT GRAYS ATHLETIC

Leiston first met Grays Athletic on Wednesday, 26th October 2011 when the Essex side beat the Blues 1-0 in front of a crowd of 231. H. Agombar got the winner for Grays while in the return fixture Rhys Henry scored twice for Leiston and H.Agombar and A.Ryan netted for Grays as 237 people watched on at Victory Road on Saturday, 17th December 2011. Leiston went on to win the league while Grays Athletic lost out to Enfield Town in the play-off semi-finals that season.

Grays beat Leiston 3-2 on Wednesday, 14th August 2013 in the Ryman Premier, with Blues defender Joe Jefford netting twice for Leiston before the teams met at Grays again on Saturday, 7th March 2015. Dumebi Dumaka put Grays ahead before Stuart Boardley scored a late free kick for the Blues in the 90th minute to salvage a point.

A year later, on Saturday, 12th March 2016, goals from Gareth Heath and Jake Taylor were enough to beat Grays Athletic 2-0.

On Wednesday, 26th October 2016, the Blues drew 1-1 with Grays. Gareth Heath put the side ahead before Harry Watkins scored a leveller before the break. That was the last time the two sides have met.

MEET GRAYS ATHLETIC

Grays Athletic were formed in 1890 and are nicknamed ‘The Gravelmen, ‘The Ath’ and ‘The Blues’.

Their manager is Mitch Hahn and they finished 18th last season in the Isthmian League Division One North, one place above the drop zone.

After starting up as Grays Juniors, they merged with former Southern League club Grays United to become Grays Athletic.

After playing in the Athenian League and London League, the club joined the Kent League in 1924 where they won the title in 1927 and 1930. They reached the FA Cup First Round in the 1952/1953 season for the first time, losing 0-5 to Llanelli. The club had to wait until the 1988/1989 season to reach Round One again, where they lost 0-2 to Bath City.

Grays Athletic were in the Conference South in 2004/2005, the very first season they introduced the leagues, and they won the division. They beat Hucknall Town in the FA Trophy final and followed this up by retaining their title the following season, defeating Woking 2-0.

However, they finished bottom of the National League in the 2009/2010 season.

The club won the Isthmian Division One North in the 2012/2013 season, and played in the Isthmian Premier Division until 2017, when they were relegated. They have played Step 4 football since.

The winners of Saturday’s tie will receive £2,250 while the runners-up will take home £750.

Games in September for the Blues

Saturday 12th Sep: Banbury United (Away)
Tuesday 22nd Sep: Peterborough Sports (HOME) KO 7.45pm
Saturday 26th Sep: TBC (FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying)
Tuesday 29th Sep: Real Bedford (Away) KO 7.45pm

[b]MATCH INFORMATION
Grays Athletic v Blues
Emirates FA Cup First Round Qualifying
Saturday, September 5th, 3pm kick off
The EMR Stadium, Chadfields, Tilbury, Essex, RM18 8NL

Admission Prices:
Adults £12
Concessions (over 65s) £8
Students (with ID) £7
Under 16’s Free of charge