In this keenly contested local derby the spoils were shared as Cray were thwarted in their attempts to make it two league wins in a row by a rugged Thamesmead side.

The game started in open fashion with both sides having early chances, Tyrus Gordon-Young volleyed an Ashley Proberts free kick wide for the visitors while Orlando Smith had a free kick deflected wide for The Wands.

As Cray started to have the better of things it was Thamesmead who broke the deadlock when on 20 minutes Gordon-Young got on the end of a superb Proberts cross to head home from six yards out. Proberts delivery was an asset for The Greens all night and caused home keeper Dean Gardikiotis plenty of problems.

As the half went on both sides missed chances with Moses Ashikodi heading a Nathan Simpson cross over for Cray and Chris Managu firing wide for Mead after great work by Gordon-Young who had a brief spell with The Wands earlier in the season before returning to Bayliss Avenue.

Late on as the game became increasingly more physical Chris Piper and Ashikodi both were just off target for the home side, but they went in trailing 0-1.

The second half saw Cray pick up the initiative from the off with Adrian Stone missing an early chance, but Thamesmead always looked dangerous on the break and George Benner had a headed goal from a free kick ruled out for offside.

As Cray continued to try and build attacking momentum, the game was broken up by a litany of petty fouls and late tackles, in between which Piper had a header tipped over by Vincent Manansanet and Stone had another header saved from the resulting corner.

The equaliser The Wands had strived for finally came on 72 minutes when Stone latched on to a through ball and scuffed his effort past the advancing Manansanet and into the corner of the net for 1-1.

Cray continued to press looking for a winner with their best chance falling to sub Elyon Marshall-Katung who powered past the visiting defence beat the keeper and then missed the open goal stumbling as he tried to blast the ball home.

Late on Cesc Fakinos shot wide and Smith fired over, while Frank Griffin made a vital block tackle on Jay Porter as Mead broke up field.

In injury time Max Fitzgerald headed over after good work by Griffin and Stone out wide, but Tommy Warrillow’s men had to settle for a point from a game they should really have won.

Cray now travel to Redbridge on Saturday looking to continue the good run of form, but the worry must be that this turn around in fortunes has come just a little too late to save them.

 

Cray: D Gardikiotis, Fakinos, Simpson, Fitzgerald, Springett, Humphrey, Smith, Piper, Stone, Ashikodi (Marshall-Katung 68), Hill (Griffin 75).

Subs Not Used: Pass, A Gardikiotis.

Thamesmead: Manansanet, Spencer, Proberts, Butler, Benner, Traore (Andugbe 81), Carter, Cray, Gordon-Young, Manangu (El Mantawy 83), Porter.

Subs Not Used: McGarragile, Adesina.

Goals: Mead – Gordon-Young 20mins. Cray – Stone 72mins.

Ref: Mr G Maskell

Att: 83