Cray Wanderers made it three wins out of four in the Isthmian Premier and moved up to 16th as the Wands bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Kingstonian to defeat Concord Rangers at the Aspect Arena.

Cray were looking to make a fast start and after some early Concord pressure took the lead in the 11th minute when George Porter was on hand to steer the ball into the net down the left.  The Wands had chances to increase their lead and did so in the 39th minute when Cameron Black skilfully diverted the ball into the net from a Nyren Clunis free kick.  The scoring was completed in the 74th minute when Anthony Cook converted a penalty after Gary Lockyer was brought down to clinch the three points.

From the side which started at Kingstonian on Saturday there were three changes with Anthony Cook, Yahya Bamba and Cameron Black coming in for Lee Lewis, Sam Wood and Tom Penfold.  Concord, who are 21st in the table, had beaten Folkestone Invicta on Saturday and named an unchanged side.

The game got off to a quick start and Cray were on the front foot and a Jamie Mascoll cross from the left into the box aimed for Gary Lockyer just couldn’t get a connection and the ball was cleared.

Concord though had a good spell for a few minutes and Jacob Bland down the left looked to get in a shot which was deflected behind, possibly off a post.

It was Cray though who broke out well down the right with the ball switched to the left via Ellis Brown although he collided with Gary Lockyer the ball came to George Porter who cracked home a fine finish at the near post for his second goal of the season.

Concord looked to get back into the game and almost levelled when Eren Kinali down the left of the area hit a shot which came back off the right post and the follow up from Bland went over the bar.

Cray though ended the half strongly and almost went two up firstly when Yahya Bamba saw a shot turned round the post by Mason Terry for a corner and then showed good pace down the left to set up Nyren Clunis who shot wide of the right post.  Then Bamba was played on from Lockyer’s flick but his shot lacked power and was held by Terry.

A second goal did come in the 39th minute when from a free kick down the right, Clunis’ ball into the area was turned in from close range by Cameron Black for his second goal of the season.  

Cray continued to play on the front foot and Porter from Lockyer’s pass almost scored a second before half time but was denied by a good save from Terry pushing the ball away.

H/T:  0-2

Cray continued at the start of the second half as they ended the first and came close to scoring a third when Bamba down the left made a jinking run and his ball into the area was turned wide by Clunis from twelve yards.  Then Bamba came close with a curling shot from just outside the area which just went past the right post.

Anthony Cook had an outstanding match down the right and looked to get on the scoresheet himself with a run forward and his shot perhaps took a slight deflection and was saved by Terry.  Then a free kick from Clunis down the left was headed goalwards by Jack Holland but gathered by Terry.

Cray once again came close when Clunis was found by a fine pass from David Ijaha but his shot was parried by Terry and cleared.

Concord were working hard to get into the game but in the 74th minute there was clear daylight between the teams when Cray were awarded a penalty when after a shot from Clunis was pushed out by Terry the ball came to Lockyer who was bundled over by Ricky Modeste.  From the spot, Cook stroked home coolly to all but seal the win.

The Beachboys almost pulled a goal back when Harry Hope down the left saw his shot clip the right post and the ball was cleared.

Towards the end substitute Reggie Rye shot over, Bamba fired just wide and Rye turned the ball over from Bamba’s cross.  The final action saw a shot from Bland well held by Shaun Rowley.

In the end Cray had well and truly blown Saturday’s defeat out of their system with a professional performance and a host of positive displays, led by Anthony Cook but Lockyer was also superb up front, the back four solid and the first clean sheet of the season just reward for Shaun Rowley after his recent fine performances.

Cray now take a break from league action on Saturday with a visit to Needham Market in the FA Trophy before resuming with a home game league game with Hornchurch which will now be played on Sunday 15th October.

Concord Rangers: Mason Terry, Ricky Modeste, Max Hudson, Ben Steward, Jamal Allen,

Teddy Perkins (Oscar Shelvey, H/T), Khale da Costa (Tahjae Anderson, 50), Harry Hope, Eren Kinali, Jacob Bland, Matas Skarna (Harrison Day, 47):  Subs: Tommy Woodcock, Joe Hasley

Booked: Modeste, Allen, Bland, Shelvey

Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Anthony Cook, Cameron Black, Jack Holland, Jamie Mascoll, David Ijaha, Ellis Brown (Sam Wood, 86), Nyren Clunis, Yahya Bamba, George Porter (Reggie Rye, 88), Gary Lockyer:  Subs:  Tom Penfold, Tom King

Scorers: Porter 11, Black 39, Cook 74 pen

Booked: Black 32

Referee: Nathan Oakes

Att: 180

Pictures supplied by Ben Keayes.