Cray Wanderers final league game of October ended in defeat as a ten man Wands side despite a heroic second half performance couldn’t prevent Bradley Sach’s 86th minute winner.
At the same time Cray moved into the bottom three after their eighth defeat of the league season.
Cray were dealt a blow in the 36th minute when Cameron Black was sent off for two bookings after a collision with Louis Arrowsmith was deemed worthy of a second and made an already tough match even harder.
The Wands though played well with ten men and went ahead in first half stoppage time when Gary Lockyer netted with a smart header from Anthony Cook’s corner kick. However, there was still time for Mason Hall to level for Canvey Island also from a corner to level things up at half time.
The second half saw few real chances as Cray defended stoutly but four minutes from time and after a spell of pressure Canvey took the lead when Arrowsmith’s looping cross from the left to the far post was headed into the net by Bradley Sach. Cray sought a leveller in stoppage time but couldn’t get the goal their performance overall deserved on the night.
Cray were looking to build on some good performances despite maybe not getting the results and from the 1-1 draw at Potters Bar Town on Saturday back into the side came Frankie Raymond and Gary Lockyer in place of Yahya Bamba and Will Wood whose loan spell has come to an end. On the bench for Cray was Alex MacAllister, a young striker on a month loan from Aldershot. Canvey who came into the game in 12th place made three changes to the team which lost 2-6 at Wingate & Finchley on Saturday with Tobi Tinibu, Jamie Salmon and Rob Girdlestone coming in for Jaden Crowhurst, Joe Paxman and Sam Mvemba.
On a thankfully mild and dry night Canvey got off to the sharper start and after Cameron Black picked up his first yellow card for a foul just outside the area, Connor Hubble fired wide of the right post.
In the 13th minute Canvey came close when from a cross down the left the ball came to Hubble down the right and his header was clawed behind well by Shaun Rowley. From the corner eventually the ball was played to Mason Hall who planted a header over.
Cray gradually found their way into the game and down the left Ellis Brown set up Lockyer for a shot which was well claimed by Sam Jackson. Then a cross from Anthony Cook down the right was glanced goalwards by Brown but Jackson was able to claim.
The game then went through an even spell but there was a chance for Luke Deslandes down the right but his shot was blocked and the follow up blocked. However, seconds after Black was adjudged to have impeded Louis Arrowsmith outside the box and was shown a red card.
Cray actually seemed to be more inspired at being a player down and almost scored when George Porter’s cross from the left fizzed across the goalmouth and just missed the onrushing Lockyer.
Then from a corner from the right by Frankie Raymond the ball came across to Lockyer who set up Ellis Brown for a shot blocked for another corner.
From the corner in the third minute of stoppage time, Anthony Cook’s left wing cross was met firmly with a flicked header from Lockyer and into the net.
Cray though would have been disappointed having worked so hard to take the lead to be pegged back two minutes later when from a Hubble corner the ball fell invitingly for Mason Hall to fire into the net.
HT: 1-1
The Wands knew they were going to have to soak up a lot of pressure in the second half and although Canvey began the half on the front foot Cray were looking very resolute and determined. Especially David Ijaha who filled in as centre-half in the absence of Black and made a number of challenges and blocks during the half.
Chances were at a premium in the second half with Cray threatening as Ijaha set up Lockyer for a half hooked volley which went over although he seemed to have been impeded in doing so. At the other end Mason Hall fired a shot wide.
Alex MacAllister came on for Lockyer for his Wands debut just before the hour and Alfie Evans shortly after giving Cray a burst of youth for the last half hour.
Canvey were putting on pressure but aside from a shot wide from Hubble were being frustrated by the Wands’ resolve.
Cray had a rare chance on the break when down the right, Nyren Clunis’ ball across was steered wide of the near post by MacAllister. For Canvey, Jaden Crowhurst shot wide.
However after a concerted spell of pressure Canvey went in front in the 86th minute when down the left Arrowsmith put over a hanging cross to the far post where Bradley Sach got to the ball to head into the net.
Cray looked to level in six minutes of added on time and exerted pressure with the nearest to a goal coming from Ellis Brown who cut inside from the left but his near post shot was held by Jackson.
Cray won a late corner but couldn’t get any joy from it and in the end just came up short as Canvey hung on to win and moved up to 9th in the table and a point off of the playoff places.
For Cray the loss meant a drop down to 20th place but there was plenty of effort and spirit to suggest things will get better and hopefully just a spell where perhaps Cray are just not getting the rub of the green.
The Wands next take a break from league action with an FA Trophy 1st Round tie with Chesham United at Hayes Lane on Saturday hoping to end October with more momentum.
Canvey Island: Sam Jackson, Tobi Tinubu, (Jaden Crowhurst, 65), Louis Arrowsmith, Jamie Salmon, Mason Hall, Rob Girdlestone, Elliott Ronto (Max Jobson, 64), Connor Hubble, Bradley Sach, Charlie Edwards, Luke Deslandes (Sam Mvemba, 89).
Subs not used: Joe Paxman, Luca Albon.
Scorers: Hall 45+5, Sach 86
Booked: Jobson 70, Edwards 74, Crowhurst 84, Hubble 90
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Anthony Cook, Cameron Black, Jack Holland, Jamie Mascoll (Yahya Bamba, 89), David Ijaha, Frankie Raymond, Ellis Brown, Nyren Clunis, George Porter (Alfie Evans, 63), Gary Lockyer (Alex MacAllister, 59).
Subs not used: Tom Penfold, Reggie Rye.
Scorer: Lockyer 45+3
Sent Off: Black 36
Booked: Black 8, Cook 74, Raymond 85
Referee: Joe McKay
Assistants: Simon Cutler, Adeotun Adeyemi
Att: 345