Non league round up: Grays Athletic draw with Hayes and Yeading (From Echo)

Non league round up: Grays Athletic draw with Hayes and Yeading

11:03pm Saturday 13th March 2010 in

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GRAYS Athletic may be near certainties for relegation from the Blue Square Premier, but they gave clear notice that they'll go down fighting with a goalless home draw against Hayes and Yeading.

Thurrock's hopes of making the Blue Square South play-offs are fading after they suffered their third successive defeat - 1-0 at St Alban's City.

After two successive wins, including a 4-1 away thrashing of top dogs Dartford, Billericay Town went into their home game with bottom club Margate in confident mood.

But their confidence was mis-placed as the Kent seasiders, under the managership of former Southend United player and Great Wakering Rovers boss Iain O'Connell, won 2-1 to give themselves hope of beating the drop.

This defeat leaves Town just clear of the drop zone still but, with three away games against play-off challengers now coming up, they need to improve quickly on this poor show.

They were up against 10 men for all but the first 12 minutes when Margate had John Keister sent off for a reckless challenge on Reece Prestedge.

But Margate showed magnificent spirit for their recently appointed new boss and took the lead three minutes into the second-half from the penalty spot, ex-Concord Rangers midfielder Nick Barnes scoring after Chris Wild had brought down James Pinnock, a striker Billericay boss Brian Statham tried to sign recently.

A 65th minute handball offence allowed Town to equalise with their own penalty, ex-Crystal Palace man Simon Thomas doing the business from the spot.

But Margate, to the delight of their travelling fans in a 391-strong `crowd, grabbed the winner in the fourth minute of injury-time when Leroy Huggins finished off one of the few flowing moves of the afternoon with a close range shot.

Canvey Island's hopes of making the play-offs suffered a blow when they lost 3-1 at Tonbridge Angels.

But Aveley's 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Bognor Regis moves them closer to making certain of avoiding the drop.