Cray Wanderers seven game unbeaten run in the Isthmian Premier came to an end as Carshalton Athletic won a lively encounter at Colston Avenue and inflicted only the third defeat of the season for the Wands.
Cray who were fifth at the start of play fell behind to 8th placed Carshalton after five minutes when Christie Pattisson finished impressively firing in off a post.
The lead was doubled in the 21st minute when Ricky Korboa grabbed his 10th goal of the season. Cray were very much still in the game and before half time and in the early stages of the second half had chances but Carshalton added a third just after the hour from the penalty spot when Bobby Price converted after Korboa was brought down.
The scoring was completed in the 67th minute when Paris Hamilton-Downes netted following a right wing corner.
The Wands were without a game last weekend and Tony Russell was able to name an unchanged side from the team which won at Brightlingsea Regent two weeks ago. Carshalton had been on a good run themselves until Tuesday night when they lost at Enfield Town and the omens were good on a bright, slightly chilly afternoon for a great game.
Cray started brightly passing the ball well but it was Carshalton with their first serious attack who went in front after five minutes. From midfield, Kershaney Samuels played a fine ball out to the right to Christie Pattisson who fired in a well struck which went in off the right post and into the net.
Cray looked to get back into the game and Ben Mundele down the left played the ball across to Joe Taylor whose attempted shot inside the area was blocked by Daniel Pappoe.
The home side were looking dangerous on the attack and a cross from Ernold Haxhiu down the right came to Ricky Korboa and his effort was deflected behind for a corner. Then Bobby Price saw his shot charged down.
In the 21st minute, Carshalton scored a second goal, Haxhiu won the ball in midfield and played a ball through down the left to Korboa who tucked home a tidy finish from just inside the area.
For the remainder of the first half, Cray threatened to come back into the game and another Mundele cross saw the ball come to substitute Tom Murphy who saw his shot blocked. Cray were forced into another change when Andre Coker replaced Barney Williams who picked up a knock on his 99th Wands appearance five minutes before the break.
There was a lively spell just before the break for the home side, Lennart Hein set up Pattisson who shot just wide of the left post. Then Cray came close when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal. From the free kick, Murphy’s shot curled round the wall but keeper Kleton Perntreou did well to push the ball out and as the ball came back into the area Coker couldn’t quite get a connection to turn the ball into the net.
Mundele made a strong run from inside his own half and saw his shot go just over the bar. Then Mundele set up Murphy who was unlucky to see his goalbound shot saved well at the right post by Perntreou.
For Carshalton, Samuels shot over from 20 yards and Korboa also shot wide as a lively half ended with Carshalton 2-0 up.
The second half started just as lively and Carshalton came close to scoring a third when Pattisson broke into the area and his effort was saved excellently by Lewis Carey and following up Korboa turned the rebound against the left post.
Cray were still very much in the game and almost pulled a goal back when Joel Rollinson lofted a looping cross to the far post which only just cleared the crossbar with Perntreou beaten.
Good set up play between Mundele and Coker saw the ball come to Rollinson whose shot was deflected behind for a corner but Carshalton continued to defend resolutely.
The third goal of the match came the way of Carshalton in the 61st minute when the Robins were awarded a penalty when down the left of the area. Korboa was adjudged to have been tripped inside the area by Mitchell Nelson. From the spot, Bobby Price stroked home the penalty to make it a long way back for Cray.
Shortly after, Haxhiu and player-manager Peter Adeniyi combined to set up Pattisson who was denied a second goal by a good blocked save from Carey.
In the 67th minute Carshalton scored a fourth goal. A corner was played towards the far post and Paris Hamilton-Downes arrived to steer a header into the net.
Cray looked to reduce the arrears when Rollinson saw his near post shot pushed away by Perntreou and the Wands kept on going looking to get a foothold in the match but couldn’t find a way through.
A couple more half chances fell for Carshalton but there were no further goals and Cray who had worked hard and contributed much to a good game succumbed to defeat. The Robins were clinical with their finishing in front of goal and continue to look a side capable of a second successive playoff push.
Cray still have much to be optimistic about as December begins and sit in 6th place just a point outside the playoffs and have the knack of bouncing back well after defeats.
Cray begin their December fixtures at home to Potters Bar Town next Saturday before travelling to Bognor Regis in a fortnight’s time.
Carshalton Athletic: Kleton Perntreou, Bobby Price (Jordan Cheadle, 68), Paris Hamilton-Downes, Daniel Pappoe, Luke Read, Peter Adeniyi, Kershaney Samuels, Ernold Haxhiu (Jeremiah Amoo, 74), Ricky Korboa, Omar Koroma (Lennart Hein, 14), Christie Pattisson:
Subs: Dario Centenera-Perez, Tommy Bradford
Scorers: Pattisson 5, Korboa 21, Price 61 (p), Hamilton-Downes 67
Cray Wanderers: Lewis Carey, Barney Williams (Andre Coker, 40), Tom Carlse, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lee Lewis, Bradley Pritchard, Charlie Allen (Tom Murphy, 30), Ben Mundele, Joel Rollinson (Jerome Federico, 74), Joe Taylor:
Subs: Geofrey Okonkwo, Grant Hall
Referee: Lee Dyson
Assistants: David Lunani, Shawn Barclay
Attendance – 332