Despite a dominant second half display from Cray Wanderers they ended the afternoon empty handed as they lost against fifth placed Bishop’s Stortford to the only goal of the game.
Bailey Vose made his Wands debut in goal and he was called into action early on as the visitors dominated the first ten minutes. As Stortford attacked down the right Jonathan Giles headed over, Christopher Harris hit the post and Freddie Barton made a superb saving header to deny Giles soon after, before Vose made a fine save to prevent an own goal from a Chris Dickson header as he defended a free kick.
With Stortford continuing to press Anthony Church headed wide, Jake Cass fired over, Giles headed a good chance wide and Ben Marlow drove a long range effort just wide.
Cray rallied from there with Jamie Yila and Dickson setting up Cameron Brodie whose shot skimmed wide of the goal. Cray started to move the ball round well and Jai Reason went close from 25 yards, but it was just as they started to look positive that the visitors took the lead.
A Giles free kick was headed back into the six yard box by Ryan Henshaw and Church met the ball with a diving header to make it 1-0 to Stortford.
Just before the break the crowd held a minutes applause to remember the life of footballer Marvin Morgan who passed away this week at the tragically young age of 38 and the game went into half time at 0-1.
The second half was played in pouring rain and it was Cray who started to look the more positive going forward. Brodie was off target with an early effort, but often as The Wands pressed the final ball was just lacking in key areas.
As the home side continued to press a strong shot for a penalty was waved away when Yila appeared to be tripped in the box, and Yila went close soon after as his header from a corner was deflected wide. Reason sent in another dangerous ball that saw Andy Drury knock down to Yila, but this time he was foiled by Stortford keeper Jack Giddens.
Cray continued to press from there and Danny Kedwell put on another forward in Erald Desa for the final few minutes. The visitors did their best to run the clock down and the officials failed to deal with delaying tactics, much to the home crowd’s annoyance.
Dickson had a goal bound shot deflected wide and from the resulting corner Drury saw his back post header land on the roof of the net, before the final chance fell to Desa who saw his shot from ten yards out well saved by Giddens to secure all three points for the visitors.
In the end it was a frustrating afternoon for Cray as they just couldn’t find a way through in the second half to pick up a point they probably deserved.
The defeat leaves Cray in nineteenth place ahead of two cup games this week as they travel to Corinthian in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night and then the FA Trophy game with Dartford at Hayes Lane next Saturday.
CWFC – Vose, Barton, Aidoo (Desa 85), Beckwith, Kaiser, Reason, Brodie (Drury 70), Cook, Yila (Rogers 79), Dickson Reid.
Subs Not Used: Hanfrey, Hanson.
BSFC – Giddens, Thomas, Church, Robbins, Henshaw, Giles, Marlow, Cass (J Thomas 73), Renee, Foxley, Harris (Merrifield 58).
Subs Not Used: Cracknell, Baker.
Goal: Church 37mins.
HT 0-1 FT 0-1
Att: 161
Referee: Isaac Searle.