Cray suffered their first defeat under Interim Boss Grant Basey at a chilly Hayes Lane on Wednesday night, losing out to Bognor Regis Town thanks to a single goal on the hour mark.

The Wands lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Anthony Cook deputising at centre back, due to injuries and player absence.

The game got off to a lively start with play going from end to end, Jamie Yila had a shot saved after a good run down the left, while at the other end Nathan Odonkonyero had a shot deflected over by Tom Hanfrey.

Odonkonyero went close again soon after for The Rocks following a defensive slip, before The Wands had another chance when Yila played in Luca Albon who fired wide across goal. Kasim Aidoo also was just off target for Cray, before Cameron Brodie had a goal ruled out for offside from a free kick.

Albon shot narrowly wide after more good work by Yila on the wing, but too often The Wands gave the ball away cheaply or were caught offside. Late in the half Jordy Mongoy forced a save from Cray keeper Bailey Vose and Odonkonyero then shot over from a corner.

The second half started with Cray doing the pressing, Chris Dickson had a shot well saved by Amadou Tangara one on one after he latched on to a James Crane back pass and then Daniel Uchechi saw his goal bound effort deflect over following a half cleared corner.

Then on the hour mark the only goal of the game came almost our of nowhere for the visitors. Ethan Robb playing a long ball over the top which found Dan Gifford who raced clear of the Cray defence and coolly slotted the ball past Vose to put Bognor 1-0 up.

Crane then hit a free kick narrowly over, before Cray battled back into things. Albon had a shot deflected wide following good work by Dickson and then Brodie played in Albon again, this time Tangara did brilliantly to tip the debutant’s driven effort from 25 yards over the bar with one hand.

With The Wands still pressing Cook had a shot from long range saved, but despite their best efforts Cray just couldn’t find a way through the Bognor defence.

The final appeal for hand ball being waved away by Referee Claussen following a free kick into the box, which was finally cleared to safety to secure the visitors their first win in five games.

The loss leaves Cray in twentieth ahead of their home game with Corinthian Casuals on Saturday afternoon.  

Cray: Vose, Barton, Aidoo, Cook, Hanfrey, Reason (Uchechi 45), Brodie (Wright 82), Yila, Albon, Reid, Dickson.

Subs Not Used: Desa, Oduguwa, Town.                                      

Bognor: Tangara, Crane, Hughes, Dandy, Cook, Robson, Whyte, Robb, Odonkonyero (Diedrick-Roberts 82), Gifford, Mongoy.

Subs Not Used: Leigh, Brook, Howick, Wyatt. 

HT 0-0 FT 0-1 

Att: 256

Goal – Gifford 60mins. 

Ref: Robert Claussen