It would be a challenge to preserve their excellent recent defensive record and that proved to be correct when The Yachtsmen found themselves 2 down within the first 13 minutes after a 30 yard wonder strike from full back David East and a further addition from Jack West put the Essex side well in control.

Suddenly Wroxham found themselves creating chances and with Grays having all the play, Jamie Forshaw had 2 opportunities from inside the box which he couldn't convert.

Wroxham paid for that miss when Grays’s pressure paid off on 38 minutes when another sweet strike from Lee Flynn receiving a cross from Lalite struck a sweet half volley that flew past Jessup.

Then Jamie Forshaw had another chance. Getting between Kirby and Baker into a one v one, he tried to lob the Grays keeper but it was too ambitious as Johnson gathered well.

West again went close for Grays before Forshaw missed another good opportunity as it was not going to be his night. He cut inside East and from 12 yards shot low but straight at Johnson who saved.

HT Grays 3 Wroxham 0

Wroxham had a torrid first half and things got worse on 51 minutes when West got between Andy Eastaugh and Matt Hallliday to fire past Jessup for his seventh goal in five games. The home side continued to dominate.

In a brief Wroxham raid they nearly took advantage of a mistake by Lalite on the counter as the ball was worked wide to Ross Durrant whose low shot from distance was caught by Johnson.

Midway through the half Josh Carus was brought on for Andy Eastaugh. Blake then hit a rasping shot from the edge of the area which Johnson needed two bites at before saving. But this was a rare get-out for The Yachtmen who were pinned in their own half for long periods.

West then squandered a chance for his hat-trick as he shot straight at Jessup following good work by Small.

It could and probably should have been more. The young Wroxham side will have to learn fast from this lesson from a side who will probably go on to win the title. Wroxham will be playing them again in two weeks time!

Grays Athletic:
Johnson; East, Baker, Kirby, Flynn; Bunce, Lalite, Beaney; Small, Hammond, West.
Subs: Subuola, Sweeney, Marshall, Moses, Carlos

Wroxham:
Jessup; Jones, Starkings, Halliday, Eastaugh; Lemmon, Durrant, Harty, Lewis; Forshaw, Harrop.
Subs: Carus, Hilton, Spellar, Blake, Cook.