GRAYS relegation woes continued as they were edged out 2-1 in a Boxing Day clash with neighbours Ebbsfleet United.

With seven changes from their last game, the Blues struggled to find any momentum or rhythm while Liam Daish’s young side, although struggling as well, immediately settled into a driving rhythm.

Fleet opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Grays defender Gavin Hoyte failed to clear from just outside his area and the speedy Magno Vieira intercepted and then cooly placed the ball past Preston Edwards.

With all the experienced players dropped and transfer-listed, Grays had no-one who would take charge of the team.

Skipper Harlee Dean was trying but his aggressive approach led to a yellow card and vital territory conceded.

Fleet should have extended their lead in the 22nd minute when former Blue Ishmael Welsh produced a fine cross that a diving Vieira just failed to latch on to at the far post.

But from nowhere, Grays got back in the game when Luke Hickie found Ryan James in space outside the box and the Millwall loanee wasted no time in calmly placing the ball past Fleet keeper Lance Cronin.

Grays kept the momentum going in the second half. Fleet were punished for a backpass to the keeper. Ryan James’ free kick piled into the wall.

It heralded a fine period of possession for Grays as they really started to impose themselves on the game with wide man Kenny Davis, in particular, rampaging, tracking back and asking everything you could of a Blue Square standard player.

In the 55th minute, Davis produced a sparkling run and cross, but it just evaded the Blues attackers.

At the other end, Grays were slowly snuffing out Fleet attacks and little defensive touches from O’Baze and Logombe, which sometimes get overlooked, were frustrating Fleet.

But you can never discount Ishmael Welsh and he started to skip past the Blues players.

Daish implored Ricky Shakes and Darius Charles to feed the nimble winger.

In the 70th minute, Ryan James flashed a shot across the goal as Julian Dicks implored his team to gamble.

Alex Osbourn and Fola Onibuje came on as the Blues boss believed the three points were there for the taking.

Fola Onibuje could have scored with his first touch as he latched on to a Dean cross but the tall Nigerian just couldn’t get enough power in his header.

But all the good work from Grays was undone in the 78th minute when Ricky Shakes burst from midfield, into space and kept his cool from inside the box to place the ball under Preston Edwards to regain the lead.

In the 81st minute, Onibuje put in darting cross that found Richard Graham on the far post, but Dean Pooley did enough to bundle the ball away.

Ebbsfleet held firm for the last ten minutes to secure a vital three points, but keep both teams in the relegation zone.