Another narrow defeat for Bury Town sees them drop down to tenth in the league after drawing a blank at Parkside
Grays had the better of things going forward throughout the game but the Bury defences did very well throughout the game also. All the early attacking came from Grays. On 7 minutes Aron Gordon went on a forward run for Grays and his short pass found Callum Watts on the edge of the box but Bury keeper Charlie Woods collected the ball from his soft effort on goal. On 14 minutes Bury broke forward with Cruis Nydazayo getting to the edge of the box but some good defending from Geofrey Okonkwo soon had the ball back in to Grays possession. Grays went back on the attack on 19 minutes with Aron Gordon shaping a shot which went wide of the far post. Cruis Nydazayo showed great ball control on 23 minutes as he chested a long ball down and went on in to the box to see his shot saved by Danny Sambridge. Grays made the breakthrough on 25 minutes when a long cross field ball found Courtney Homans out wide and just outside the box and his low driven strike beat everyone as it hit the back of the net. A long ball down the center on the pitch from Grays on 34 minutes almost fell to Aron Gordon who would have been in on goal but for a vital clearance from Alfie Cutbush. Grays continued to press forward but Bury stood strong at the back so the home side could not add to their tally in the first half.
Half Time: Grays Athletic 1 Bury Town 0
Second half was more of the same. Grays making most of the attacking play and Bury defending well. On 48 minutes a cross in to the Bury box hoping to find the head of Sam Bantick instead found the head of Lewis O’Malley who made the clearance. On 61 minutes a long throw in from Grays was met by a soft headed effort from Malaki Toussaint and was easy for the Bury keeper to collect. Bury broke forward on 63 minutes and a half clearance fell to Carlos Edwards but his scuffed shot from distance lacked power as the keeper made the save. Alfie Cutbush tried his best to make a free kick work for Bury on 72 minutes but his curling effort to the far post was saved well by Danny Sambridge. Grays won a corner on 77 minutes which was sent in close to the far post where Ronnie Winn was looking to head a chance but Charlie Woods was there to make the catch. A clever ball from Ryan Melaugh on 85 minutes sliced through the Bury defence but Charlie Woods was got very quickly to stop the attack. In injury time Callum Watts had a chance to kill the game of for Grays but his shot from inside the box was directed straight at Charlie Woods who made an easy save. Bury defended very well all game but in attack they were unable to get through the Grays defences who protected their keeper well as they went on to take the win and leap frog Bury Town in the league.
Full Time: Grays Athletic 1 Bury Town 0
The David Longman Man of the Match: Joe White
Match Rating: 2
Attendance: 183