Abbey Crash Title Party - Grays Athletic vs. Waltham Abbey

Seconds before the heavens opened

I was in Chelmsford in the evening and so I needed a game as close to the Liverpool Street to Chelmsford line as possible. I got lucky as Grays Athletic, who are currently playing in Romford were at home to Waltham Abbey in the Ryman Division One North. Grays already had the title sown up and were hoping to finish the season in style against mid table Abbey. I'd seen Grays at their old Recreation Ground in an FA Cup replay against Carlisle United several seasons ago in a game that had postponed due to floodlight failure the first time it was played. I'd seen Waltham Abbey at the same stage of the season a couple of years ago when they hosted Potters Bar Town.

Kick off on the last day of the regular Ryman League season

Grays come close in the opening minutes of the game when a free kick in to the box is just cleared by the Abbey defence. They have another chance shortly afterwards when the striker is played in, but his weak shot is stopped by the keeper. They break forward again when the Abbey midfielder is robbed of possession but on this occasion, the effort on goal is deflected wide. Abbey take the lead with their first real chance, the forward chests the ball and smashes the ball home. They double their lead when the ball is slammed home following a good save by the Grays keeper to leave the hosts shell shocked.  

Grays look for the early break through

The visitors pull further ahead when they break quickly and the ball is prodded home at the back post. Abbey look to be in total in control but the home side score a classy first and they sense the come back is on. Another smart passing move provides them with a second before the ball is headed home to complete a remarkable comeback. However, the action doesn't stop there. With the home side piling forward, Abbey get another break away goal to reclaim the lead. In the aftermath of the goal the home keeper is sent off and Abbey add a fifth before the final whistle. Despite the loss, the champions are presented with the league trophy after the game to cap a memorable season.

Covered standing down one side of the pitch.

As mentioned earlier, the closest station to the Rush Green Stadium is Romford which is a half hour train ride from Liverpool Street and the trains depart on a regular basis. There are three or four buses you can catch from outside the station to the ground. The journey should take five minutes but Rush Green Road can be very slow moving due to traffic. In Romford Town Centre itself if The Golden Lion which had a couple of ales and has Sky Sports. The club house at The Rush Green Stadium looks like it has been refurbished in recent times and also had Sky Sports.

This was a fantastic programme celebrating Grays' fantastic season. If the programme is like this every week than it is fantastic value money with a lot of reading.

Another shot of the advancing rain storm