Sometimes you just have to do it yourself. Two goals down at half-time against Hampton & Richmond in the Ryman League last week, the Grays Athletic manager, Mark Bentley, was unhappy with his team’s performance.
They pulled a goal back early in the first half but Bentley, a former Southend and Gillingham midfielder, was still not satisfied so substituted himself on.
Shortly after his arrival, the 37-year-old glanced a header in from a corner to score the equaliser. But then things threatened to turn sour 13 minutes from the end when the Grays keeper, Conor Gough, was dismissed following an altercation with Charlie Moon and Hampton & Richmond were awarded a penalty.
Bentley decided to step between the posts. And after a four minute break in play, the man of the moment kept calm to make an unorthodox save to keep the score level.
And it got even better for Grays in the final seconds of injury time when João Carlos scored a dramatic winner having been fed by Correy Davidson.
Bentley returned to his seat in the dugout against Leiston on Saturday, but Grays ended up conceding in the last minute to draw 1-1. They currently sit 14th in the table.
The club made a request for supporters to contribute money to keep the club afloat after Saturday’s game because “our income stream has been limited and is currently at an all time low”. Grays play local rivals Billericay Town on Wednesday in the semi-final of the Robert Dyas League Cup.
