Waltham Forest 1 – 0 Grays

ANDREW Thomas scored the only goal of this Championship Manager Trophy First Round tie to help Waltham Forest to their first win and first clean sheet of the season, writes Tony Brazier.

With the strong wind at their backs Grays Athletic dominated the first half of this tie and the home defence and goalkeeper Jason Willis were in fine form to surprisingly keep the scoresheet blank at the break. After dominating the opening spell, Jared Small saw a shot blocked and almost immediately a cross from Eljay Worrell was met by Emiel Aikun who did well to turn his goal bound effort wide of the post. From the resulting corner Daniel Bunce fired just wide.

Forest’s first attack came on 17 minutes and new signing Charlie Simpson saw his cross –shot saved by Nick Wilson in the Grays goal.

Worrell responded for Grays and saw his low shot well saved, but Forest almost broke the deadlock on 24 minutes when Marquin Smith played a through ball to Andrew Thomas, but the forward was just offside.

Forest pressed again through Smith who linked up with Ade Cole and Sheldon Sellears who saw his shot cleared, and Worrell again went close for the visitors.

Just before the break Cole saw his shot blocked and from the clearance Jamie Haywood was on hand to head Duran Reynolds strike off the goal line.

Now with the wind advantage it was Forest’s turn to have more territorial advantage in the second half and this paid off on 52 minutes when the ball was played through to Thomas who beat his marker and calmly slotted the ball past Wilson.

Grays responded and Willis pulled off some amazing saves to keep his goal intact, and Worrell again put a good strike just wide of the target.

Forest could have doubled their lead, but this time Wilson pulled off a double save from Lawrence Yiga and Thomas, and then saw the resulting corner headed against the bar by Cole.

In the dying seconds Cole played a through ball to Simpson, but his effort was just wide.

Both sides return to League action on Saturday with Grays away to AFC Sudbury and Forest at Maldon & Tiptree.