Cray Wanderers made it two away wins to start 2020 as a first ever visit to Bowers & Pitsea saw a come from behind victory.
Second half goals from Joe Taylor and a last minute debut strike from Rhys Murrell-Williamson completed a comeback after Bradley Warner gave Bowers a first half lead from the penalty spot.
This completed a league double for last season’s Isthmian South-East Champions vs the North Champions.
Both teams had been in decent form and this was a hard fought game with two contrasting styles of play but always engaging with Cray showing good resolve and determination to turn the game around after the home side had the better of the opening 45 minutes.
The Wands unveiled a very recent new signing with winger, Rhys Murrell-Williamson arriving from Braintree Town and he came into the side for Lee Lewis.
Bowers & Pitsea won 3-1 at Merstham on Tuesday night which followed a 2-2 draw at Bishop’s Stortford and the Isthmian North champions looked a confident side at the start of the game which was also manager Rob Small’s 300th game in charge.
The Wands started well and had a fair amount of the ball but the home defence held firm. Cray were a bit unfortunate, though, not to take the lead when a free kick out on the right from Bradley Pritchard found Mitchell Nelson who rose up with Lewis Manor who got a touch to turn the ball into his own net but the effort was disallowed for a foul by Nelson.
Then from a free kick out on right, Murrell-Williamson curled a free kick round the wall but his effort was comfortably held by Callum Chafer.
The best early chance of the game though fell to Bowers & Pitsea. A ball from out on the left from Tom Stephen found Bradley Warner who from just inside the area seemed to scuff his shot allowing Lewis Carey to save.
For Bowers & Pitsea, Warner was a real threat in the first half and the focal point of the home side’s attack and in the 32nd minute he opened the scoring. Working his way down the left of the area he was adjudged to have been brought down by Nelson for the award of a penalty. From the spot, Warner stroked home his 15th goal of the season.
Bowers & Pitsea now had their tails up then and shortly after, a cross into the box was punched away by Carey and came to Warner who fired over the bar.
Cray were finding chances harder to come by although Tom Murphy’s cross did find Barney Williams who fired a shot over the angle of post and crossbar.
The second half started with Charlie Allen coming on for Cray in place of Tom Murphy as Cray looked to get back into the match.
Bowers & Pitsea were still playing well and another strike from Warner from just outside the area was well claimed by Carey. Then Bowers had a good chance when a fine ball from Manor found substitute Quentin Monville who broke into the area and flashed a shot just across goal and wide.
Cray though were beginning to up their game and Rollinson won the ball in midfield and found Tom Phipp who hit a shot from 25 yards which flashed wide of the left post.
Then in the 64th minute Cray drew level with another terrific piece of finishing from Taylor, receiving a fine pass from Rollinson, the striker lifted the ball into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box for his 27th goal of the season.
A couple of minutes later, Cray almost went in front when again down the right, Rollinson from just inside the box hit a fierce shot which was met by a terrific save from Chafer at his near post.
The game was now developing into a fine contest after the rather attritional first half and Bowers had a great chance to get back in front when Warner dispossessed Nelson and broke forward but he was denied by a superb diving save from Carey to keep the scores all tied.
Cray as in most of the league games this season ended the game strongly and almost went in front when Nelson’s ball forward found Taylor who hit a sweet volley which went just over from 14 yards.
The game looked like it might be a draw but the character of the Wands shone through and they went in front with a minute to go with a superb individual goal from Murrell-Willamson. The winger took on Osifuwa and burst down the left and from the edge of the area hooked a clinically taken shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
With four minutes of added on time, Cray were able to see out the final moments well and pick up a big and well earned three points.
The win sees Cray remain in 6th place in the league table, level on points with Hornchurch on 41 points and the two sides meet on Wednesday night which should be a great occasion under the lights at Hayes Lane.
Bowers & Pitsea: Callum Chafer, Tom Hine, Tom Stephen, Ade Osifuwa, Lewis Manor (Capt), Callum Leahy, Max Cornhill (Quentin Monville, 52), Ben Sartain, James Thomas (Dan Trendall, 90), Bradley Warner, Jamie Dicks:
Subs: Sammy Collins, Joe Gardner, Tyrone Baker
Scorer: Warner 32 pen
Cray Wanderers: Lewis Carey, Ben Mundele, Barney Williams, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson (Capt.), Tom Phipp, Bradley Pritchard, Tom Murphy (Charlie Allen, H/T), Joel Rollinson, Rhys Murrell-Williamson (Lee Lewis, 90), Joe Taylor
Subs: Jerome Federico, Karl Dent, Geofrey Okonkwo
Scorers: Taylor 64, Murrell-Williamson 89
Referee: Craig Pullen
Attendance – 154