Cray Wanderers remained bottom of the Isthmian Premier League table but would have been frustrated not to have come away with the three points after a positive performance against Hastings United who had keeper Louis Rogers to thank for earning a point at Flamingo Park.

The Wands were looking to repeat the FA Cup win over Hastings in September and the first was a similar tense affair with the best chance falling to Stefan Ilic who hit the inside of the right post.  After the break the game opened up and Kenny Coker twice, Charlie Edwards, David Smith three times, Ike Orji and Imran Kayani all came close to winning the game for Cray but for saves from Rogers or efforts wide or over the top.

Both teams were looking to bounce back from Tuesday night home defeats and their were three changes to the Wands team beaten by Chatham Town with Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Kenny Coker and Charlie Edwards coming in for Darion Dowrich, Nyren Clunis and David Smith.  Hastings United were beaten at home by Cheshunt where keeper Louis Rogers was sent off but named an unchanged starting lineup.

On a sunny October afternoon, not surprisingly the game began a bit cautiously with the first shooting chance falling to Hastings with top scorer Davide Rodari shooting over from 25 yards in the 7th minute.

Cray though were knocking the ball around well and came close in the 10th minute when first Charlie Edwards found Kenny Coker inside the area and before he could shoot, Rogers got down well to block the ball away and following up Stefan Ilic down the left of the area saw his near post shot turned behind for a corner.

For Hastings a left wing corner from Freddie Legg was swung to the far post but Charlie Edwards headed the ball away.  Then at the other end Ilic inside the area played the ball back out to Edwards who fired wide.

Around the half hour mark Cray began to exert more pressure.  Firstly Toby King found Lateef Adaja down the left and his fine ball to the far post was headed away by Tom Howard.  Then from a free kick in a central position, Frankie Raymond curled the ball over the wall but was held by Rogers.

In the 33rd minute, Adaja put over another fine cross from the left and at the back post Ilic’s header went across goal and away from the onrushing Coker.  At the other end, Tommy Fagg went forward but saw his shot from outside the area blocked by the excellent Ike Orji.

Cray were still looking the more positive of the two sides and Raymond, Orji and King combined with Edwards to set up up King for a shot which was fielded by Rogers.

In the 40th minute, Fagg made a run towards goal and his shot from outside the box was went into the arms of Shaun Rowley.

Just before half time Cray came closest yet when after the award of a free kick down the right of the area, Raymond laid the ball to Ilic who cracked in a shot which hit the inside of the right post and out.  Then, Coker fired a cross-shot wide as the Wands ended the half on top.

Hastings had to make a change when Finlay Chapman came on for Billy Vigar and in added time Rodari saw an effort blocked by Quade Taylor.

HT:  0-0

The second half began scrappy for the opening exchanges but Cray began to create real openings and in the 54th minute Raymond’s ball into the box was met by the head of Coker and Rogers did well to push the ball behind for a corner.  

Then, Rowley’s ball forward fell to Coker who one on one inside the box saw his shot well saved by Rogers and following up Edwards’ header was cleared off the line by Howard.

On the hour, Hastings created their best chance of the game when from a ball into the box, Chapman flicked the ball towards Rodari who glanced a header wide of the left post.

David Smith was introduced into the fray and came close twice in two minutes when first found by Edwards down the right drove a shot wide of the left post.  Then another change, Anthony Cook set up Smitha again down the right but once again Rogers did superbly to block the shot.

Then in the 75th minute, Ilic who had another fine match down the right put over an excellent cross to the far post for Smith whose header was claimed by Rogers.

Imran Kayani was introduced and saw a shot deflected behind for a corner.  Then from a free kick from Raymond towards Tom Bonner was cleared away by Hastings.

Going into the closing minutes Cray continued to threaten.  From a free kick, 25 yards from goal, Orji fired a shot wide of the right post. 

Cray though were desperately unlucky not to score in the first of eight added on minutes when Smith set up Owiredu-Gyamera who put over a cross which was met by Kayani on the stretch and Rogers made his save of the match to turn the ball aside.

From a corner, Raymond’s cross was knocked wide by Taylor and then right at the death, Smith was unlucky inside a crowded box to see his shot saved by Rogers and from the scramble the ball was hacked away.

Cray had done everything to win the game and just lacked that bit of fortune inside the area and certainly created as many chances than any game this season but in the end had to be content with a draw.  The point moved the Wands on to five points and although five points off safety can be encouraged by the performance and also the clean sheet. 

The Wands next move on to Tuesday night and a match against 20th placed Whitehawk on what will be another tense night.

Cray Wanderers:         Shaun Rowley, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Quade Taylor, Tom Bonner, Ike Orji, Lateef Adaja, Frankie Raymond, Charlie Edwards (Anthony Cook, 69), Stefan Ilic (Imran Kayani, 76), Toby King (David Ijaha, 90+7), Kenny Coker (David Smith, 60): Sub: Calvin Ekpiteta

Booked:           Taylor 87

Hastings United:         Louis Rogers, Adam Lovatt, George Walker, Jack Dixon, Tyrone Mlotshwa, Tom Howard, Davide Rodari, Kian Moynes, Billy Vigar (Finlay Chapman, 45+2), Tommy Fagg (Leo Young, 68), Freddie Legg; Subs: Joe Clifford, Callum Pollitt, Stefanos Akras

Booked:           Mlotshwa 82, Young 90+2

Referee:          Scott Rudd

Assistants:       Alan Budden, Nicholas Bone

Att:       453