Cray Wanderers were only two minutes away from recording their fourth 1-0 win in a row, before second placed Billericay Town grabbed a late point with a 93rd minute equaliser at Flamingo Park on Saturday afternoon.
In blustery conditions the game got off to a lively start, Blues top scorer Moses Emmanuel having an early effort saved by Shaun Rowley.
Cray countered with pacey full back Darion Dowrich setting up Josh Williams whose effort was saved by Sam Donkin in the visitors’ goal.
The game developed a physical edge as things progressed Tyrell Miller-Rodney being booked for a clash with Frankie Raymond, for the most part Referee Fabio Roque was happy to let things go and play advantage.
Cray had a good spell of pressure from there, but Ricay had the best chance when Emmanuel knocked the ball over Rowley, but Tom Bonner managed to get a vital touch to deny Frankie Merrifield as he bore down on goal.
With the game wide open Nyren Clunis had a free kick saved for The Wands, while at the other end Femi Akinwande put an effort just wide off the post latching on to a great ball from Ashley Nazala.
Just before halt time Miller-Rodney was lucky to escape a second yellow for a heavy challenge on Bonner and The Blues midfielder was subbed at half time.
The second half saw Cray start brightly, but their possession lacked the final ball around the area and it was the same story for Billericay when they has a positive spell around the hour mark.
With play opening up again, Montel McKenzie put an effort over for the visitors, while Clunis saw a dinked effort saved by Donkin.
As Cray started to look the more threatening again, Lateef Adaja put a good chance wide under a vital challenge from McKenzie, Bonner headed a corner over and Williams was off target after more good work by Clunis.
The first goal of the game came on 83 minutes when Ike Orji’s ball down the left found Joshua Williams who coolly slid the ball past Donkin into the far corner of the net to put The Wands in front.
Raymond fired over from range soon after before in the third of five added on minutes Billericay levelled up on 93 minutes when a long throw into the box was turned home by Nazala from close range.
There was still time for chances at both ends, Adaja crossed for Charlie Edwards who put a diving header narrowly wide of the from post and then Billericay almost won it when another long throw caused chaos in The Wands area, Dowrich managing to hook the ball off the line as it looked destined for the net.
The final chance came the way of Neil Smith’s side when a free kick from the left found Remy Sutton whose powerful header was brilliantly tipped over by Donkin.
The draw was probably the fairest result with The Wands now sixteenth, six points off the bottom four, ahead of their Boxing Day trip to Dartford.
Cray – Rowley, Orji, Dowrich, Sutton, Bonner, Adaja, Raymond (Edwards 91), Williams, Clunis, Jeche (Coker 86), Penn. Subs not Used: Parkes, Warwick, Kardel.
Billericay – Donkin, McKenzie, Porter, Pollock (Steward 45), Emmanuel, Merrifield (Azeez 80), Davis, Miller-Rodney (Panton 45), Nazala, Akinwande, Krasniqi (Miller 88). Subs not Used: Johnson, Steward.
Goals: CWFC – Williams 83mins. BTFC – Nazala 93mins.
HT 0-0 FT 1-1
Att: 636
Referee: Mr Fabio Roque