City produced a battling display but two massive injury blows in the opening minutes of the game effectively put paid to their chances of leapfrogging Grays at the top of the league.

Gary Roberts named the same starting eleven that took all three points from their visit to Havant last Saturday. At the same time the visitors were extending their unbeaten opening to the campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Eastbourne courtesy of Freddy Eastwood’s early penalty.

With the crowd still taking their seats City’s afternoon got off to the worst possible start when Jon Stevenson (coming into the match on a run of three goals in the last two games) went down off the ball. A hamstring injury forced him out of the action and gave an early opportunity to the returning Paul Fewings.

Paul Fewings heads the ball on

Whilst the Lilywhites were forced to re-organise it was the Blues who let their guard drop failing to react to Richard Scott’s short corner but Carl Williams resultant shot lacked power and was gathered comfortably by Carl Emberson.

A slick passing move then saw the visitors slice through the City rearguard as Dean Brennan’s lay off created a first-time shooting opportunity for Stuart Thurgood whose well struck drive was straight at Duncan Roberts.

Then with only ten minutes on the clock came the incident that effectively decided the game. There seemed no apparent danger as Daniel Lunan slung in a deep cross from wide on the left but with the City defenders expecting Roberts to come and collect there was no audible call forcing Lee Chaffey to rise in an attempt to head clear. Roberts belated attempt to claim the centre resulted in an ugly collision which left both the ‘keeper and Paul Fewings prostrate and presented Eastwood with the easiest of chances as he headed the loose ball into an unguarded net.

Both casualties required lengthy treatment. Worryingly for the home side their giant custodian appeared to have aggravated the shoulder injury which had recently sidelined him for three games.

With City reeling Grays spurned a decent chance to double their advantage when a slick one-two between Eastwood and Martin Carthy freed Mitchell Cole on the edge of the box but his apparently nonchalant effort, when unmarked, sailed harmlessly over.

Despite a brave attempt to carry on Duncan Roberts succumbed to his injury. With no substitute ‘keeper on the bench Lee Chaffey donned the gloves, Lee Summerscales filling the space at left back.

Rob Miller is left on the floor by Freddy Eastwood

City showed considerable resolve in such adversity and for the remainder of the half carried the game to the visitors. The Lilywhites tried to exploit the pace of Dale Binns at every opportunity and mid-way through the opening period the former Hendon wide-man sped down the left sliding an excellent pass into the feet of Dave Sadler, when a shot appeared his best option he elected to square to strike partner Fewings but laid the ball marginally behind the substitute allowing the Grays defence to stifle the opportunity.

Binns and Sadler then combined again as the former Hinckley hit-man released the winger with an angled return header. The fleet-footed Binns ran clear of Joe Bruce before firing across Emberson forcing the experienced stopper into a diving stop.

The alert Rob Miller then took a quick free-kick, having been fouled himself, flighting the ball onto the forehead of Sadler but the effort lacked the power to extend Emberson.

A poor first touch by Bruce was seized upon by Fewings who freed Binns down the left but with the strikers unable to keep pace his fierce cross-shot flashed across the face of goal and away from danger.

As the half drew to a close the accumulated pressure should have seen City draw level. Richard Scott’s perfectly placed free kick was cushioned by Fewings into the path of Sadler, clear on goal eight yards out, but on afternoon when things just didn’t go his way he lost his balance at the crucial moment and the visitors were reprieved.

Surprisingly Grays failed to test stand in ‘keeper Chaffey to any great extent but when Richard Scott carelessly conceded possession on the stroke of half-time Leroy Griffiths seized the opportunity to free Carthy whose powerful low drive was turned impressively away from goal by the former Ipswich player.

Dale Binns gets a challenge in on Gray's Joe Bruce

Despite making a spirited start to the second period, when Sadler rose but was unable to get above Binns’ deep cross, Grays then succeeded in stifling the game and neutralising City’s attacking threat.

Vill Powell and John Nutter replaced Eastwood and Brennan in quick succession. For the hosts Gary Roberts last throw of the dice was to introduce Robbie Simpson for Fewings who had been struggling with a knock since soon after coming on as an early substitute himself.

As the game entered it’s final twenty minutes City were given a warning of what was to follow as Griffiths wind-assisted cross held up in the air allowing Cole to flash a header across the face of goal. The next time he got a similar opportunity the former Queen’s Park Rangers striker whipped in an excellent centre that was dispatched beyond the despairing Chaffey by Vill Powell’s clinical header.

Although that was effectively game over City produced a resilient final ten minutes with Carl Williams narrowly off target after getting on the end of Scott’s free kick. The combative mdfielder then picked up the only yellow card of the afternoon for a late challenge on Cole.

With City pushing forward the dangerous Griffiths then raced clear of Matt Langston and Lee Summerscales before delivering a centre across the face of Chaffey’s goal but Glen Fuff capped another fine display by tidying up and clearing the danger.

With the clock ticking down Matt Langston flicked out a boot at Williams’ long range shot sending the ball looping up in the air and forcing Emberson to scramble away from underneath his crossbar.

The skipper then fed Binns whose incisive pass freed the hard-working Miller inside of the box, but caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross the former Bedford midfielder sent the ball across the face of goal and behind.

Griffiths proved to be a thorn in City’s side right to the last as he again raced clear down the left and centred for Cole but this time it was Craig Pope on hand to save the day and deny the Blues a third goal that would have been cruel on the defiant Lilywhites.