It wasn't pretty - but it was a very valuable point against fellow relegation candidates Barrow at the Holker Street Stadium.
It did't start well. Jamie Stuart began where he left off at Wrexham conceding a foul in the 1st minute, but Jason Walker’s free kick went straight into the wall.
Grays had a number of free kicks in the first ten minutes but on every occasion the ball drifted aimlessly over the bar.
Fortunately Barrow were tightening up. With right-footed Paul Brown on the left-hand side, they were far too narrow - plus they gave away possession far too much, destroying any possible momentum.
The team were working hard. Gary Phillips has clearly instilled a work ethic and many players such as Jamie Slabber were putting in a fair shift, running down balls and snuffing out play.
Joe Tabiri continued to dominate in the tackle but let himself down by simply hoofing the ball up field on nearly every occasion while Andy Pugh was showing great promise, shielding, working and trying to create chances.
On the half hour, Barry Cogan produced a mazy run, cutting inside from halfway, evading two tackles before slipping the ball through but his shot was well smothered by Bluebird keeper Alan Martin
Barrow came out of the blocks in the second-half as the fear was that Grays would lack the stamina to stay with them.
The ever-threatening Jason Walker produced a neat drag back and shot while two other chances were cut out by fantastic last ditch tackles by Fabian Wilnis.
It seemed just a matter of time. In the 58th minute came the Steve Arnold howler when attempting to clear from the edge of his area. His kick was charged down by Walker who stroked the ball into an empty net.
Arnold’s abysmal clearances are obviously a liability as each decent save he makes is neutralised by abject clearances that banana into the crowd or splutter to the half way line and turn attack into defence in the blink of an eye.
Grays Ath, to their credit, didn’t give up and showed why they can evade relegation. The ineffectual Stefan Bailey (who had one of his better games but that is perhaps not saying much) was substituted for Kenny Davis. Davis immediately brought stability - as well as class - to the midfield.
Grays got their reward in the 65th minute through a lovely piece of individual skill from Andy Pugh who neatly controlled and shielded the ball on the edge of the area before picking his spot low and hard in the left hand corner of the net.
Pugh is a confident young man and had an outstanding game. Give him an out-and-out striker and he will be a potent force.
The last twenty minutes were highly entertaining as both teams created a host of chances.
Davis became a vital lynchpin as he linked neatly with Barry Cogan while going close with a header himself in the 75th minute.
Davis also has huge potential and should be given a run in the centre where he was the talisman for Harlow last season. A Davis-Thurgood combination would be a real threat and engine room in the centre. It would be criminal to waste his talent at right back or on the bench. He is a fulcrum, not a spare part.
In the 86th minute, Steve Arnold redeemed himself with a fabulous outstretched tip around the post from a wonderful 30 yard thunderbolt from Carlos Logan.
In injury time, Grays could have sneaked it when sub James Lindie’s header from six yards went wide of the post.
Some may well speculate that with farcical scenes at Weymouth, there is only one relegation spot to worry about. Grays will be buoyed by the point and will feel they have nothing to lose when they face Cambridge on tuesday night.
Report by Michael Casey
Thanks to Your Thurrock for the match report
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