Grays Athletic 0-1 Met Police
From Mill Field
Ryman Premier League
GRAYS Athletic were beaten by a well-organised Met Police team chasing promotion.
A single goal from Matt Pattison was enough to hand the visitors only their fourth away win of the season, despite their high league position.
Blues hadn't played since their last-gasp draw at Canvey Island 11 days earlier and they started tentatively, although Manny Parry did head wide.
Conor Gough was first called into action when Bradley Hudson-Odoi shot on goal and he was needed once again soon after.
Parry was penalised in the area and Charlie Collins stepped up, only to be superbly denied by Gough.
Joao Carlos and Joel Nouble tested away goalkeeper Craig King but there was nothing between the sides at the break.
Into the second half, Gough was again denied by Hudson-Odoi and despite, the introduction of player/manager Mark Bentley it was Blues who took the lead.
Inevitably, Hudson-Odoi was involved and his cross was well converted by Pattison ahead of Gough.
Former Southend United man Bentley saw a free-kick well saved, before King later denied Jay Leader when he headed at goal.
And that left Met to claim the points, despite late calls for a Grays penalty after the ball appeared to hit a hand in the box.
Blues will look to bounce back from the defeat when they visit the same team this weekend.
Grays Athletic: Gough, Best-Riley, Siva, Leader, Parry, Wilson, Ferguson, Beaney, Dumaka, Nouble, Carlos
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