City 0 - 0 Grays Athletic

Grays Athletic were the latest visitors to the FWD-IP Community stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Essex side had not picked up an away point since their 2-1 win away to Bowers & Pitsea, having lost their last 4 matches on the road.

City came into the match having just seen their long 13-game unbeaten run come to an end against Concord Rangers, the Lilywhites' 1-0 defeat was the first in any competition since table-toppers Felixstowe & Walton United came to town and bagged a 2-0 away win.

Grays were looking to add to their 3-1 win over Mildenhall Town last weekend and they started the match the stronger. After just 4 minutes, Elliot Sartorius sent a ball in the area, in came back out and Sartorius, this time, had a shot himself that sailed over the bar.

3 minutes later and a ball from Sidney Walker was sent long up to Toheeb Elegushi, with both the midfielder's and teammate Sartorius' efforts being blocked.

It was all Grays to start but City soon got going which resulted in the first corner of the day. A City throw was cleared by Jordan Clark and it came back to Shaun Mavididi, who's deflected shot was just tipped around the post. The following corner was cleared eventually, but Jack Thompson got the better of Guy Norton and shot for goal. The effort flew over the bar.

City had another chance 11 minutes later. After a long ball from Ali Njie to George Smith failed to open up the Grays defence, Aaron William-Bushell picked up the loose ball and his lobbed pass was met by an overhead kick by Smith which bypassed the crossbar.

Smith then managed to win a corner which Thompson whipped into the penalty area. The first cross was headed out and Jayden Randell sent the ball back into the 18-yard box which was just over Smith's head.

With 33 minutes played, after a tight first half, a ball up from Codey Cosgrave found Mavididi but his cross hit the side netting.

Grays then took the initiative for the next few minutes. A Casey Nolan-Samuels throw into the box was cleared, but not before a handball shout was waved away by Josh Crofts. The next throw came out to Alex Moss, the strike was then blocked en route to goal.

With 42 minutes gone, City threatened again with Cosgrave finding Thompson and the cross from Thompson being cleared, but only as far as Williams-Bushell, the defender's cross was then plucked out of the air by George Marsh, right in front of the oncoming Smith and Solomon Ofori.

The first half ended goalless.

City looked to take the lead immediately after the second half started. Smith played in Mavididi, the striker then dropped the shoulder to turn on his right and aimed the shot at goal, which Marsh did well to parry over the crossbar.

After 53 minutes, Thompson gave the ball to Ofori, who then won a free-kick. The ball was swung in and was cleared off the line before Thompson then angled a shot just wide from a Randell pass.

With just over an hour gone, Sartorius was caught dawdling in the centre of the park and Thompson picked his pocket. The following cross, however, was floated just wide of the far post, dashing any chance of scoring the opener.

At this point in the match, the travelling supporters were constantly singing, which galvanised the visiting team. Substitute Aron Gordon played in Ned Hepburn, with Elegushi the target in the penalty area, but the striker miss-timed his jump and the ball sailed over his head.

With 11 minutes left to play, Grays continued to look for the opener. A free-kick from Norton was flicked on towards goal and was defended for a corner on the left-hand side. The cross was sent in and Callum Taylor had to react sharply to clear the ball off the line at the far post.

With the 90^th minute fast approaching, and both teams still trying to find the winner, a Grays Athletic free-kick came to Alex Strugurean, who then found Walker, the resulting shot was then blocked and then Gordon sent the following effort wide of the mark.

In injury time, Grays came again with Hepburn coming  forward on the left. His run was almost capped off by a goal but the shot from Hepburn rolled agonisingly wide of the far post.

Neither team were able to produce any more meaningful attacks and the fixture finished 0-0, mirroring the reverse fixture which ended 1-1 at Chadfields.

City's unbeaten run may have ended but their draw is their fourth in six matches and in all competitions it's just one defeat in 15 matches. City's next assignment is 2 away matches, firstly we visit walthamstow in a rescheduled Tuesday night fixture followed by a trip to top of the table Felixstowe & Walton United next weekend.

Connor Taylor-Creek