Injury hit Cray Wanderers suffered their third consecutive defeat as they lost by a single goal to Leatherhead on a frustrating Boxing Day afternoon at Hayes Lane. 

Missing Mitchel Nelson, Tom Carlse and Barney Williams from their back four, Tony Russell had to reshuffle his side again as they took on the Tanners. 

The game started in open fashion with play flowing from end to end, but the visitors had the best chances with Crossley Lema firing wide and Charlie Hester-Cook having a shot saved by Lewis Carey.

The Tanners went on to dominate for a spell as the Wands struggled to get going and uncharacteristically gave the ball away on a number of occasions.

Carey had to make saves from Ibrahim Olutade and Izuanna Ikebuasi, before Hester-Cook was just off target. As the half went on Cray rallied with Bradley Pritchard volleying a Jerome Frederico cross over and then Frederico set up Joe Taylor whose shot went narrowly wide with Charlie Allen just failing to connect with the ball as he slid at the far post.

Late on Jay Leader made superb block to deny Olutade, before Carey made another good save to keep out a Travis Gregory shot at his near post. 

The second half saw the visitors take an early lead when Gregory sent in a deep cross from a corner which was met by Callum Driver at the far post to slide the ball home for 1-0.

Cray tried to rally from there with Joel Rollinson having a shot saved by Zaki Oualah. The game became more open and stretched as the half went on, but Leatherhead had better chances with Driver shooting wide and Olutade forcing another save from Carey.

The Wands kept going though Ben Mundele providing a threat down the right and Taylor battling up front with Tanners centre back Jerry Mnamani. Rollinson hit the post after a scramble in the box and Karl Dent had a shot defected wide, before a lengthy delay for an injury to Oualah.

In injury time Cray had one final chance to equalise, but after Mundele had set up Tom Murphy the sub shot straight at the keeper and the rebound cannoned off Taylor and bounced wide. 

There was no luck for Tony Russell’s team who slip a place down to seventh in the Isthmian League Premier Division table ahead of their trip to Margate on New Years Day. 

Cray: Carey Leader Okonkwo Lewis Mundele Pritchard Dent Taylor Allan Rollinson Frederico (Murphy 51)

Subs Not Used: Al Hassan Oduguwa Hall Phipp 

Leatherhead: Oulah Driver Lema Mensah Salomon Mnamani Gregory Hester-Cook Olutade (Robinson 74) Ikebuasi Macnab (Seager 78)

Subs Not Used: Dawkins Fuguerido-Corriera  

Goal: Driver 49mins

Attendance:180 

Referee: Shelby Elson