Cray Wanderers gained a hard earned point from their third away game of the week against a more than useful Corinthian Casuals side.
Cray went in front through Karl Dent’s close range finish in the 33rd minute, but the lead lasted barely a minute as Casuals drew level with a Josh Uzun penalty.
The Wands task became considerably harder when Danny Haynes was sent off a minute before half time and had to play the whole of the second half with ten men. Despite the handicap of being a man short, Cray defended stoutly in the second half and frustrated Corinthian Casuals efforts to score and thoroughly deserved their point at the end.
The Wands came into the game on the back of a 1-5 defeat at Walton Casuals on Wednesday whilst Corinthian Casuals had a 5-1 win against Molesey on Tuesday night, so the Cray supporters anticipated a difficult game. There was two changes to Tony Russell’s side with Paul Lorraine returning to defence in place of Sol Taiwo and Lee Prescott came in for Luke Medley.
As in their last two away games Cray started the game very well and looked lively going forward and Danny Haynes was caught fractionally offside from Jey Siva’s pass.
From a corner in the 7th minute, Siva’s right wing cross was helped on by Jay Leader’s header and Haynes with his back to goal turned and hooked a shot fractionally wide.
Corinthian Casuals looked a very decent side when they attacked and Shaun Okojie hit a cross shot which was held by Nick Blue. Then Cray had a fairly decent chance when Lea Dawson’s fine ball through came to Haynes who ran on but snatched at his shot and the ball went wide.
After a decent first fifteen minutes for Cray, Casuals started to get on top for the next fifteen minutes and Ben Cheklit down the left hit a curling shot which Blue got down to save well.
Then Josh Gallagher set up Cheklit again with a shot at the near post which Blue saved with his foot for a corner. From the corner, the ball was flicked wide by Jamie Byatt.
For Cray, Dent set up Scott down the right hand side but his attempted near post shot went into the side net. Casuals though still looked the most likely scorers and twice had efforts cleared off the line first from Byatt and then Juevean Spencer as the Wands goal led a charmed life.
However, it was Cray who broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a very well taken goal. Haynes down the right played the ball across which came to Scott down the left. He went past Jack Strange and close to the by line put over a cross which Haynes cushioned the ball to Dent who on the volley crashed the ball into the net.
They say you are never more vulnerable than when you’ve just scored a goal and that adage rang true for Cray as forty seconds later, Casuals were back in the game from a penalty when Cheklit was played through and was hauled down by Dawson and instantly had a chance to level the scores. Josh Uzun stepped up to take the penalty and sent Blue the wrong way to level the scores.
Cray really needed half time as Warren Morgan sent over a cross from the left which flew across goal and just needed a touch to have prodded the home side in front.
A minute before half time, Cray suffered another setback when Haynes was sent off for what was deemed a two footed tackle on Danny Dudley which meant a re-shuffle for the second half.
Half Time: 1-1
Tony Russell had to make a change at half time and sent on Luke Medley in place of Brandon Scott. Medley had a promising debut at Walton on Wednesday and held the ball up well when Cray really needed it in the second half today.
As you would expect, Corinthian Casuals had virtually all the play but found Jay Leader and Paul Lorraine to be rock like and hard to break down. Full backs, Ben Mundele and Jey Siva were very disciplined and barely ventured forward whilst in midfield, Prescott, Sean Roberts and Dawson in particular held firm and remained composed. Dent was industrious as was Medley but understandably the Wands parked the bus somewhat in the second half.
The home side threatened when Uzun ran through and laid the ball to Josh Gallagher but his effort was cleared frantically away by Leader. Then Spencer’s cross was turned away by Dent doing his defensive duty.
The Wands have one breakaway in the 66th minute when Roberts played in Medley down the left, the angle was tight but the ex-Chatham man got a shot is which keeper Danny Bracken saved with his foot.
Casuals came forward and efforts from Mahrez Bettache and Spencer were both deflected behind for corners. Then Cheklit’s cross from Okojie but his near post header went wide.
Cray kept their shape despite looking a bit fatigued and held on fairly comfortably despite Casuals having virtually all of the ball with Lorraine and Siva having to make vital blocks to prevent a real goal scoring chance. Then ex-Wands player Jordan Clarke fired well over the bar.
The Wands grew a bit more in confidence towards the end and almost grabbed an unlikely winner when Medley worked an opening from a throw in and from the edge of the area fired just over the bar.
The last half chance came to the home side but Warren Morgan shot over the top and the Wands held on for a fine point.
Cray showed a lot of grit and determination as they did at Hastings last Saturday and it was just a shame they couldn’t hold on to the lead long enough.
A point would have been considered a good result at the start of the game and Cray can now look forward to three home games including a mouth watering match against league leaders Tooting & Mitcham United next Saturday.
Cray: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Jey Siva, Jay Leader, Paul Lorraine, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Sean Roberts, Lee Prescott, Danny Haynes, Karl Dent, Brandon Scott (Luke Medley, H/T).
Subs not used: Sol Taiwo, Dane Luchford, Timi Osidobu, Jai McKinlay
Sent Off: Haynes 44
Booked: Dawson
Corinthian Casuals: Danny Bracken (Capt.), Juevan Spencer, Warren Morgan, Danny Dudley, Jack Strange, Mahrez Bettache, Ben Cheklit (Max Oldham, 81), Josh Uzun (Jordan Clarke, 71), Shaun Okojie, Josh Gallagher, Jamie Byatt (Mu Maan, 71).
Subs not used: Terry Murray, Dave Hodges
Booked: Gallagher
Referee: Craig Robson
Assistants: Timothy Godfray, Anthony Cross
Attendance: 186