GRAYS Athletic fell 10 points adrift of the Isthmian North play-off places after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Coggeshall Town.

Nnamdi Nwachuku, who has returned to Coggeshall for a second spell this term, scored what proved to be the only goal of the contest.

And, as a result, Grays left empty-handed.

Nwachuku skipped beyond Grays goalkeeper Danny Sambridge soon after the half-hour mark only for the effort to be sent just over the crossbar.

A Tevan Allen strike was deflected wide, but Coggeshall broke the deadlock on 63 minutes after Joshua Pollard’s touch put Nwachuku through on goal.

Two sliding challenges stopped Grays drawing level before Allen’s rocket went inches wide of the target.

Grays pushed for a leveller, but Jim Cooper’s side were unable to equalise.

The defeat came just a matter of days after Grays suffered a late 4-3 defeat to Billericay Town in the Essex Senior Cup quarter-finals.

Although Joao Carlos netted twice and Tony Stokes also scored, a deflected free-kick from Jamie O’Hara and Jake Robinson’s hat-trick, which was completed with an injury time penalty, ended Grays’ run.