An injury hit Cray Wanderers battled out a hard fought draw with Cheshunt at a chilly Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon, the visitors playing with ten men for just over half of the match. 

Grant Basey’s side were without the injured Kyel Reid & Ethan Kaiser, while Jamie Yila had to drop to the bench with illness, which saw a late reshuffle to the starting line up, they then lost Denzel Williams to another injury after only 20 minutes.      

In front of a good crowd bosted by the Cray Wands Youth Teams in attendance, Cheshunt started the game on the front foot, but it was Cray who had the first clear chance when Sam Wood and Freddie Barton combined to set up Chris Dickson who headed narrowly wide at the far post.

At the other end Reece Beckles-Richards then had two efforts saved by Cray keeper Joseph Wright and the lively Rowan Liburd also forced a save from The Wands keeper low down at his near post from a tight angle.

Cray’s front two worked tirelessly all game and Narcis-Florin Filip caused Cheshunt’s centre backs lots of problems with his pace. Anthony Cook going close with a free kick after Filip had been dragged down to the floor by Taylor McKenzie.

There was a moment of controversy after twenty minutes when Beckles-Richards had a goal ruled out for offside, when it appeared Liburd who was in the offside position had not touched the ball. Beckles-Richards then set up Liburd who again was denied by Wright and the MIllwall loanee then also saved from Jamie Reynolds.

On a rare attack Barton crossed for Wood whose acrobatic volley was saved by Preston Edwards in The Ambers’ goal. Liburd had a header saved, before Cray then had a good spell with Cook going close from a free kick after another foul by McKenzie on Filip.

Then with three minutes to go in the half Cray were given the advantage when good link up play by Wood and Dickson set up Cook who broke clear and was brought down in the box by Chevron McLean. Referee Mr Hayden awarded The Wands a penalty and also sent off McLean for the offence. Cook tucked away the spot kick for 1-0 and in turn recorded the 100th goal of his football career.

There was still time in the half for both teams to have another chance, Liburd forcing a save from Wright and then Filip dragged a chance wide for Cray. 

Cray started the second half on top, Dickson going close with a volley from range and Wood finding the roof of the net with a cross shot from the left. Dickson then was denied by Edwards and Wood had a shot deflected over from 25 yards.

Ten man Cheshunt rallied from there, Wright making a good save and then after he spilled the resulting corner, Wood cleared the ball off the line to preserve Cray’s lead. Jo Re had a free kick well saved by Wright, before The Wands could have doubled their lead when Barton and Filip set up Cook who fired over from ten yards out and Dickson was denied by Edwards after a powerful run into the area.

After a relatively quiet spell it was Cheshunt who next created a chance and this time they made it count, Reynolds setting up Liburd who drove the ball in off the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the box to equalise on 72 minutes.

Cray had a strong period of pressure in the final ten minutes, but they lacked the final ball in the area and in a frantic spell of play during injury time, Re forced a save from Wright and Tom Hanfrey cleared one off the line before Cheshunt had a penalty shout waved away when Reynolds went down in the box.

The final chance of this enthralling game fell to the home side, Barton playing in Cameron Brodie who drove the ball just over from just outside the area.                                               

The draw keeps Cray in nineteenth, one point clear of the relegation places ahead of Wednesday night’s home game with Haringey Borough. 

Cray: Wright, Barton, Aidoo (Alban 84), Hanfrey, Williams (Danquah 21), Brodie, Cook, Wood, Munting (Yila 78), Filip, Dickson.

Subs Not Used: Vose, Oduguwa.

Cheshunt: Edwards, Ekongo, McLean, Kassarate (Ojo 45), Crowther, McKenzie, Beckles-Richards, Roberts (Re 45), Liburd, Miles, Reynolds.

Subs Not Used: Williams, Newton, Alderson.

HT 1-0 FT 1-1

Goals: CWFC – Cook 42 pen. CFC – Liburd 72mins.

Att: 333

Referee: Michael Hayden