Cray kept their unbeaten run going with a hard fought draw against a Chipstead side who in turn picked up their first point of the season in an entertaining goalless draw at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The Wands started the game on top moving the ball round well, Freddie Parker had an early shot deflected wide before Karl Dent set up Bradley Stevenson who shot just off target. Dent had a chance of his own well saved by Oliver Pain and he then set up Brandon Scott who saw his downward header cleared off the line by Chris O’Flaherty.

The Chips first chance fell to the pacey Oliver Twun, but home keeper Jordan Carey saved bravely at his feet. Scott and Barney Williams went close for Cray before the game was held up when Dean Carpenter suffered a head injury after bravely blocking a cross on the edge of The Wands box. After the midfielder was stretchered off Dent fired over and then crossed a dead ball for Lea Dawson who headed just wide.

The second half saw Cray start brightly with Mitchell Nelson having a header saved from a corner after a strong run by Scott was blocked by Liam Harwood. Chipstead came into things a bit more from there, Saidou Khan fired over and then Keanu Williams went close twice forcing a good save from Carey.

With the rain pouring down the away side launched a deluge on the home goal with Jordan Martin hitting the bar from a corner. Carey was then called upon soon after to make a fine double save parrying a shot from Leon Lalow-Dell and then blocking Williams’ effort from the rebound. The Cray defence stood up well to The Chips pressure with Nelson making a number of well timed tackles and blocks on the edge of the area and to a man Tony Russell’s side never stopped battling.

Late on Cray had a good spell with a series of corners following a Stevenson effort that was tipped away by Pain. Scott was fouled by Martin just outside the area as he was shooting on goal and, after the defender was booked, the resulting free kick from Dent saw Pain make another good stop.

Another corner was headed wide by Jay Leader before in injury time Dent hit the top of the bar from 25 yards out with the final effort of the game.

The Wands now unbeaten in three games take on Hastings Utd at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night.

Cray: Carey, Mundele, Williams, Leader, Nelson, Dawson, Carpenter (Henry 28), Dent, Parker (Power), Stevenson (Osibodu 81), Scott. Subs Not Used: Evans, Vines.

Chipstead: Pain, Woodcraft (Cascoe 45), O’Flaherty, Warren, Martin, Harwood, Lalor-Dell, Khan, Williams (Adaje 85), MacLean, Twum (Lodge 65). Subs Not Used: Males, Smith.

Att: 128

Ref: Mr M Goldsmith

Report: Colin Head