An inspired performance from Cray Wanderers goalkeeper Lewis Carey secured his side a point against Wingate & Finchley who looked a far better side than their league position would indicate.

The game got off to an open start, but it was the visitors who created the clearer chances, Henry Ochieng fired across goal, before Billal Sayoud had a powerful shot pushed away by Carey.

Sayoud curled another chance over before Carey again was on hand to deny him with a save low down at his near post.

The Wands first chance came when Joe Taylor had a shot blocked in the box before his effort from the rebound was saved by Shane Gore in the Wingate goal.

Oluwaseun Akinsanya put two shots wide of the goal as the visitors pressed again, then Bradley Pritchard had a shot from the edge of the box saved for Cray after Taylor had played him in.

Wingate had the better of things going into the break with Ben Mundele and Mitchell Nelson making vital blocks in the area to prevent shots on goal, while Sayoud and Alphonao Kennedy saw efforts saved by Carey.

Lee Lewis had a long range effort saved by Gore, but The Wands were slightly off the pace and slow to get the ball moving over all.

The second half saw Cray come out looking far more positive Lewis drove a chance over and they had a good shout for handball in the box turned down, before Barney Williams combined with Pritchard only to shoot wide, quickly followed by Mundele who did the same after linking up with Taylor.

Joel Rollinson was denied by Gore after a great move and then Tom Murphy hit a dipping effort from range, which went just over the bar.

Then Wingate came back into things with Akinsanya denied at the near post by Carey, who then saved a Charlie Ruff fierce half volley from 20 yards. Sean Grace had a header saved from a corner as The Blues pushed for a winner, then Luke Ifil clipped a chance over the bar after breaking clear.

Cray almost won in in injury time, though, when Mundele crossed for Taylor who had a header saved by Gore who then went on to make another stop from Murphy.

The last action of the match saw Pritchard pushed to the floor just outside the box, but Karl Dent’s free kick was cleared to safety as the whistle blew.                   

The point leaves Cray sixth in the Isthmian League Premier Division, just one point off the play off places as they prepare for their trip to Bowers & Pitsea next Saturday, while the unfortunate Wingate & Finchley are now bottom of the table.        

Cray Wanderers: Carey, Williams (Dent 70), Mundele, Leader, Nelson, Phipp (A|llan 56), Lewis, Pritchard, Murphy, Rollinson (Frederico 76), Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Okonkwo, Abbatan. 

Wingate & Finchley: Gore, Platt, Farrell, Rifat (Ifil 70), Grace, Njie, Kennedy (Oluwatimlehin 45), Ochieng, Akinsanya, Renee, Sayoud (Ruff 81).

Subs not Used: O’Keefe, Read.     

Attendance: 144

Referee: Mr Joseph Stokes