Grays Athletic 3-1 Farnborough

From Mill Field

Ryman Premier League

 

GRAYS Athletic recorded just their second league win in seven weeks as they came from behind to take the points against beleaguered Farnborough.

Blues had fallen behind early on but equalised before the break, only for two late second-half goals to ensure Mark Bentley’s side pocketed some much-needed points against 10-man Boro.

Farnborough had a wretched away record, having lost 13 of their 14 games on the road so far this term, drawing the other.

But things were looking good for them when Kevin Krans bundled home the ball after some good wing play.

Dumebi Dumaka was back in the starting line-up for Grays, after missing a spell through injury, but it was the man who has shone in his absence who drew the Blues level.

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson broke the offside trap, rounded former Canvey Island goalkeeper Melvin Minter and finished into the corner.

But the game could well have hinged on a decision that went in Grays' favour. In what appeared to be a 50/50 challenge between Josh Hutchinson and Dumaka, the latter came out worse and Hutchinson was sent off.

Grays stepped up the pressure after the break, with Fortnam-Tomlinson testing the goalkeeper and Jake Hutchings heading narrowly off target.

But it was almost Farnborough that took a surprise lead, when Tommy Wright brought the best out of Grays stopper Lamar Johnson as he made a stunning save to keep it at 1-1.

But Carlos won Grays a penalty with a trademark jinking run and, after Fortnam-Tomlinson’s effort was saved, it was Carlos that tucked home the rebound.

To their credit, Farnborough never gave up but Correy Davidson had the last laugh, as he buried an effort past Minter to complete the scoring and move Grays to within five points off the play-offs.

 

Grays Athletic: Johnson, Ifill, Siva, Cronin, Hutchings, Agyemang, Michael-Percil, Beaney, Dumaka, Fortnam-Tomlinson, Carlos