Big-spending Grays could yet face the indignity of being relegated from the Ryman Premier Division.

Mark Stimson's men, having lost 3-1 at local rivals Purfleet yesterday, now finish their league campaign with two Essex derbies which will have special meaning for the opposition.

On Saturday they host a revitalised Billericay side who they have signed four players from this season before finishing their campaign the following weekend with a trip to a Ford United side managed by their own former boss Craig Edwards.

Ford themselves have banished all fears of the big drop, moving two points clear of Grays with two games in hand, following yesterday's 1-0 win at Bishop's Stortford.

Yesterday's defeat saw Grays drop to seventh from bottom just five points away from the dreaded last four relegation zone.

And, with all their lowly rivals apart from the already relegated bottom two with games in hand, they could yet face real trouble.

They hit problems yesterday against an understrength Fleet team, still with hopes of a top six placing, when Terry Bowes opened the scoring after 21 minutes. Steve Pashley made it 2-0 after 61 minutes.

Roy Essandoh pulled one back with a 74th-minute header, but any hopes of a revival were soon extinguished when Tresor Kandol got Purfleet's third straight from the restart.

Grays, in all probability, will finally survive, but their final position will certainly be a long way from the push for honours their fans were hoping for at the start of the season.

For more on Ryman Premier League sides see our Ryman Premier League section

Published Tuesday, April 22, 2003

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