Grays Athletic 1-4 Worthing

(Bishop 89’: Dawes (p) 26’, 50’, 90’, Wills 66’)

From Mill Field

Ryman Premier League

By Danny Rust

GRAYS Athletic remain bottom of the Ryman Premier League after they suffered a heavy home defeat to Worthing.

Despite Grays striker Kieran Bishop finding the back of the net late on, a Lloyd Dawes treble and Kane Wills strike was enough for a rampant Worthing to claim all three points.

Visiting striker Omar Bugiel came close to giving the Rebels the lead within the opening two minutes, but Grays Athletic goalkeeper Amadou Tangara did well to divert Bugiel’s close range header, which looked destined for the bottom corner, away.

Bishop then had a golden opportunity to give Jamie Stuart’s side the lead, but his 16th minute effort went well wide when he should have at least tested Worthing goalkeeper Jack Fagan.

The Rebels took the lead midway through the first half. Worthing frontman Aaron Hopkinson was brought down in the penalty area and winger Dawes converted the resulting penalty.

Dawes came close to grabbing his second of the match as he met a Harvey Sparks cross, but the midfielder’s header was brilliantly tipped over by Tangara.

Stuart’s side would have been looking to get back on level terms early in the second period to give themselves a chance of going on to claim an important three points, but Dawes doubled his tally five minutes into the second half to give Grays a mountain to climb.

Dawes sent a superb header from a Sam Rents free kick into the bottom corner, giving Tangara no chance.

The former Lewes man then came close to completing his hat-trick moments later as he sent a shot goalwards, but left back Jamie Mascoll was in the right place at the right time for Grays as he cleared Dawes’ effort off the line.

Hopkinson almost claimed the visitors’ third, but Kane Wills’ thunderous effort beat Tangara to put Worthing three goals to the good.

Bishop did convert a consolation goal for the Blues as his shot found the bottom left corner and left Worthing shot stopper Fagan helpless.

But the influential Dawes completed the scoring and his hat-trick with a chip over Tangara in the final seconds of injury time to condemn Grays to a 4-1 defeat and leave Stuart’s side propping up the division.

Grays Athletic: Tangara, Mahal, Mascoll, Campbell (Hornsley), Wilson, Forbes, Sarpong, Osei (Watkins), Menga (Kabobola), Bishop, Carlos