Julian Dicks' reign as Grays boss got off to a nightmare start as his side crumbled at home against Altrincham.Chris Denham gave the visitors an early lead, finding the net with a left-foot strike from Nicky Clee's pass.

Anwar Uddin diverted Denham's shot into his own net just after the hour-mark to double Altrincham's advantage.

And just three minutes later Chris Senior diverted home Denham's cross to seal the points and cap a miserable afternoon for West Ham legend Dicks.

Grays Athletic manager Julian Dicks told BBC Essex:

"I understand that certain players play at this level because they're not good enough to go to higher levels.

"But in all football, if you give 110% it goes such a long way.

"But today, apart from Daryl Robson who came on, none of them did that."

Grays Athletic: Edwards, Mawer, Hoyte, Uddin, Obersteller (Robson 46), Poole, Davis, Vernazza, Braham-Barrett, Taylor (Crowther 79), Charge (Jeffery 67). Subs Not Used: Butcher, Beavan. Booked: Vernazza, Robson, Mawer, Braham-Barrett.

Altrincham: Coburn, Densmore, Williams, Smith, Doughty, Denham, Danylyk, Kearney, Clee (Heffernan 22), Johnson (Pearson 43), Senior, Pearson (Thaker 78). Subs Not Used: Saunders, Thornley. Booked: Pearson. Goals: Denham 10, Uddin 62 og, Senior 65.

Att: 674. Ref: A Davies (England).

Source: BBC Sport