Junior Baker in Athletic latest (From Thurrock Gazette)

Grays edge win at Rush Green

10:08am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Sport

Grays Athletic 3

Romford 2

RYMAN 1 NORTH: Junior Baker scored in the dying moments to spare Grays blushes in a “Romford” derby at Rush Green.

The Grays fans taunted Romford with chants of “you’re supposed to be at home” as Grays went 2-0 up, before squandering the lead in the second half.

After a sluggish first five minutes, Blues took the lead.

Jared Small had his cross from the right turned in at the back post by Joao Carlos.

Harry Agombar then, fortuitously, doubled the home side’s lead five minutes later.

His free kick took an almighty deflection off the wall before looping over Chris Clark in the Romford goal.

But in a frustrating second half, some poor defending from one of a number of Romford free kicks from the left, enabled Paul Clayton to rise unopposed and head Romford back into the game after 59 minutes.

In the 68th minute, the visitors who play their home games in Thurrock at Ship Lane, were awarded a controversial penalty. Lewis Francis missed the penalty, but former East Thurrock forward Kurt Smith put home the rebound. Grays were frustrated further when Jeff Hammond was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Smith as the wily Romford forward was challenged by a number of Grays defenders.

Despite a valiant second half effort from Romford, with just minutes to play, Baker who had got into the box following one of his marauding runs, got on to the end of a low cross from Joe Sweeney.

And his goal gave the Blues a vital three points as they attempt to keep in the play-off zone.

Grays Athletic: Kamurasi; Pope, Baker, Kirby, Bunce; Beaney, Hall (Sweeney), Agombar; Small (West), Hammond, Carlos (Marshall).