Cray Wanderers picked up a vital three points in the Isthmian League Premier Division on Tuesday night with a single goal victory over Chichester City at Flamingo Park, courtesy of a Nathan Jeche goal thirteen minutes from time, in a game with plenty of incident including two red cards and fifteen minutes of stoppage time.     

Cray started the game looking really positive, Lateef Adaja having an effort tipped over by Kieran Magee in the City goal after a good run down the left.

Nyren Clunis then crossed for Tom Bonner who headed just wide at the far post and Clunis was narrowly off target soon after from the edge of the area.

With the game wide open, but the home side creating nearly all the chances, Josh Williams then set up Clunis who fired over and Bonner then played in Jeche who curled an effort wide from just inside the area.

The momentum of the game then shifted significantly when Wands centre back Quade Taylor was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Jimmy Wild.

Inevitably Chichester then had a good spell as they pressed their numerical advantage, Ethan Prichard having an effort saved by Shaun Rowley and then putting another shot just over.

With City doing all the pressing Joe Clarke headed wide when connecting with a wayward shot from Joe Moore. The game was then held up moments before half time for an injury to Finlay Chadwick who required lengthy treatment before having to be taken off. 

The second half started with Cray looking positive again and Chichester were also reduced to ten men when Ryan Davidson was show a second yellow card for a foul on Jeche as he ran past him down the left.

Isaac Bello went close for the visitors, before The Wands had a strong spell of pressure. Clunis had a shot cleared off the line, Frankie Raymond set up Jeche who shot wide and Cray carried on playing the ball around and looking for an opening.

The breakthrough came on 77 minutes when Raymond sent in a speculative high ball into the box and Bonner diverted it into the patch of Jeche who bundled the ball home in a crowded area to make it 1-0.

From there The Wands saw the game out, keeping Chichester at arms length, Clunis played in Toby King who fired wide, but one goal was enough to give Neil Smith’s side another three points keeping their twelfth clean sheet of the campaign.   

The Wands are now sixteenth in the table, six points clear of the bottom four ahead of their trip to league leaders Dover Athletic on Saturday.                           
Cray: Rowley, Orji, Dowrich, Bonner, Taylor, Raymond, Clunis, Edwards (king 72), Jeche (Coker 90), Williams.

Subs Not Used: Parkes, Warwick, Shonibare. 

Chichester: Magee, Dunn, Hutchings, Moore, Davidson, Chadwick (Rowlatt 45), Bello (Da Costa 78), Clarke, Wild, Jammeh (Munt 87), Prichard.

Subs Not Used: Horncastle, Pashley. 

Goals: Jeche 77mins. 

HT 0-0 FT 1-0

Att: 303      

Referee: Jordan Crossley