Cray Wanderers’ play off ambitions took what look to be a terminal blow on Saturday as they lost at home to an impressive Hornchurch side at a chilly Hayes Lane.
Manager Neil Smith made several changes to his starting line up from last week’s defeat at Hastings Utd, with Jalen Jones, Anthony Cook, Sam Wood and Tom Derry all starting on the bench, but unfortunately, the shake up didn’t have the desired effect against their title challenging opposition.
The game got off to a lively start with play flowing from end to end, Nyren Clunis played in Dayshonne Golding who fired over and as Cray then started to mount some pressure, Golding missed a great chance when he dispossessed Hornchurch keeper Joe Wright just outside the box, but then hit the bar with his shot from 18 yards out.
The Urchins then rallied after their let off and former Cray striker Chris Dickson set up Ade Yusuff whose shot was saved by Shaun Rowley in the home goal.
With the game now wide open the live Jephte Tanga was fouled out wide and Bailey Akehurts’ free kick was spilled by Wright and skidded out for a corner. Nyren Clunis ball into the box was then turned just wide by Sam Skeffington.
At the other end Dickson was denied by Rowley again, before Honchurch got the break through on the half hour. Sam Higgins played in Ellis Brown whose shot was parried by Rowley only for Yusuff to turn home the rebound for 0-1.
Going into the break Cray had a series of corners which came to nothing, but the final incident of the half came at the other end. Dickson and Tanga challenged for a loose ball in the box heading out to the bye line and remarkably Referee Mr Lamping awarded the visitors a penalty. Higgings stepped up to take the spot kick, but his powerful shot down the middle was superbly saved by Rowley and cleared to safety by Matthew Weaire.
The second half saw Cray start on the front foot again, Freddie Carter going close with a header, but as the half went on The Wands lost their way and started to give the ball away in key areas.
Higgins forced another save from Rowley, Micky Parcell fired narrowly wide, before Dickson & Yusuff had efforts that went over. With Cray looking lost, The Urchins cashed in on 65 minutes, Dickson picked the ball up out on the wing and cut into the box before drilling the ball low into the far corner of the net for 0-2.
Smith made three changes from there with Cook, Wood and Dery all coming on, but nothing would fall for The Wands on a frustrating afternoon. After a quiet spell a heavy challenge from Carter on Ollie Muldoon saw a scuffle on the halfway line, which eventually saw the Cray midfielder booked along with Hornchurch’s captain Nathan Bertram-Cooper who had been heavily involved.
Cray kept pressing for a breakthrough, but The Urchins were too solid in defence and they nearly made it three right on the whistle when Liam Nash’s free kick went just wide of the near post.
The loss leaves Cray Wands in ninth place ahead of their next game away to Bowers & Pitsea, while Hornchurch are now just one point off the top of the table.
Cray: Rowley, Tanga, Akehurst, Weaire, Carter, Ijaha (Wood 77), Skeffington, Golding (Derry 66), Bassett (Cook 66), Clunis, Bamba.
Subs Not Used: Jones, King-Bassett.
Hornchurch: Wright, Parcell, Sutton, Allen (Clark 45), Bertram-Cooper, Wraight, Brown, Muldoon, Higgins (Nash 79), Dickson, Yusuff (Stimson 85).
Subs Not Used: Olidapo, Joseph-Johnson.
Goals: Yusuff 30mins, Dickson 65mins.
HT 0-1 FT 0-2
Att: 330
Referee: Joel Lamping