Grays Athletic indebted to goalkeeper Conor Gough as his penalty save helps secure points against Harrow Borough

From Mill Field

Ryman Premier Division

IT WAS a tale of three penalties as Grays Athletic returned to winning ways with a narrow win over league strugglers Harrow Borough.

Caretaker manager Mark Bentley had suffered his first defeat in charge of Blues in their last home match against Lewes but they claimed another three points against the side who started the day second from bottom.

Goals from captain Kenny Beaney and centre-back Manny Parry were enough, either side of a Mark Charles-Smith penalty for the visitors, with Conor Gough saving Grays with a fine spot-kick save.

But it was Harrow who started the brighter. The earliest opportunity fell to Michael Byron but no-one could get onto his low centre and the danger was cleared.

Nik Salapatas saw an effort fly narrowly wide of the post before returning winger Joel Nouble, who rejoined for a second loan spell from League Two outfit Dagenham & Redbridge in the week struck off target.

But the deadlock was broken by the hosts shortly after the half hour mark. Joao Carlos was scythed down in the box and Beaney stepped up to hand Grays the advantage.

But they couldn’t hold on until the break, as Harrow got a deserved equaliser - Charles-Smith grabbing a deserved equaliser from the spot after a foul.

Dumebi Dumaka shot narrowly wide after the interval before Grays made their opponents pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Parry, the man who was to go on and concede the spot kick, rose highest to power a header home.

But it was Gough who turned out to be Blues’ hero, as he produced a sparkling save from the spot to keep Grays ahead and take the points.

Grays Athletic: Gough, Best-Riley, Siva, Parry, Leader, Stevens (Bentley), Wilson, Beaney, Dumaka, Nouble, Carlos (Morrison-Derbyshire)