Buckhurst Hill FC started life at Step 4 with a victory against two time FA Trophy winners Grays Athletic in their first ever game at the eighth level of the English Football Pyramid.

The Stags took the lead inside just seven minutes when Shane Temple slipped Max Gnandi in on goal and with just the keeper to beat, Hill’s winger beat the keeper with pace and skill as he took the ball around the Grays goalkeeper, before finishing the ball into an empty net to score out first ever goal at Step 4 !

Grays were not to be overlooked and almost brought the score level when a mistake at the back put Freddy Moncur in on goal but luckily North was there to deny Grays an equaliser with a save with his foot.

Hill’s work-rate on and off the ball had been praised throughout the game, which played a huge factor when Grays went forward with the visiting side still unable to put the ball in the net despite a few good chances in front of goal.

The Stags doubled their advantage after 34 minutes when Max Gnandi also doubled his tally for the evening. A shot from Suley Zuhdu was blocked on the edge of the area before Gnandi was able to receive the ball inside the area, before spinning two defenders and firing the ball low and hard into the bottom corner, leaving the Grays keeper with no chance.

The second half brought very few chances for both teams with Grays substitute Denzel Effah going close to grabbing a goal back for the visitors just after the hour mark but the wild effort from range flew just over the crossbar.

Tyler Dolan had a chance to extend Hill’s lead with eleven minutes left on the clock but the attempt began to fade with the winger looked to have taken the ball far too wide after being played through on goal and his shot was eventually easily saved by the visitors’ keeper.

Mark Williams then went onto make his final two changes inside the last ten minutes of the game and with the ambition to hold onto the lead in mind, the changes were very defensive minded with Hill able to hold onto their two goal lead and make history with their first ever win at Step 4.