Cray dropped their first points of the season, but still maintained their place at the top of the table with a hard fought draw against Whyteleafe at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night in a really entertaining game.
Whyteleafe created the early chances with Eddie Dsane shooting wide from afar post knock down before they eventually took the lead on 5minutes via a stunning Bradley Wilson free kick.
The Leafe right back drove the ball low and hard through the wall just beating Nicky Blue low down at his near post. Despite missing Power, Dent and Rhule due to injury Cray responded from there with Bradley Pritchard forcing a save from Tyler McCarthy, but the visitors’ keeper was unable to get anywhere near Jerome Frederico’s emphatic effort from the rebound which crashed high into the back of the net from twelve yards out to make it 1-1.
Both sides moved the ball round nicely and had spells of pressure during the half, Cray pressed when Freddie Parker headed a Pritchard free kick over from close range before Frederico had a long range effort tipped over and Jay Leader blasted over from the resulting corner. Parker showed some great footwork before hitting the foot of the post from the edge of the box and Tom Phipp had a shot saved by McCarthy.
At the other end Whyteleafe pressed also, but the closest they went was when Wilson hit a long range free kick just over the bar with Blue off his line.
The second half began with Whyteleafe looking the stronger, Dsane having a goal ruled out for offside and Bentley Graham was denied by Blue. The game became more heated and a little scrappy for a while before The Wands got back into gear and started to press again when Barney Williams set up Phipp who drove wide. Graham went close again for Leafe before Pritchard had a shot saved after good work by Frederico.
Ben Mundele came on for his 100th Cray appearance and gave them an extra threat out wide and in the air, Graham had a free kick saved by Blue before The Wands had the best chance of the half when Phipp set up Parker with a great long pass, but the young striker saw his shot palmed away by McCarthy when well placed.
In the final five minutes of the match both sides had players sent off for what seemed harsh second yellow cards, with The Wands losing Mitchell Nelson and the visitors losing Graham soon after. Leafe had one late chance to win the game, but Lauris Chin miss-timed his header when six yards out from a Marvin Armstrong cross.
The draw was probably a fair result over the piece, with both sides having chances to win the game and playing good stuff. Cray now travel to third place VCD Athletic on Saturday for what should be an entertaining local derby.
Cray: Blue, Williams, Johnson, Leader, Nelson, Roberts (Henry 75), Phipp, Pritchard, Dadson (Mundele 69), Frederico (Evans 86), Parker.
Subs not Used: Solebo, Onwoachu.
Leafe: McCarthy, Wilson, Donoghue, Campbell, Thompson, Orome, Hector, Graham, Dsane (Chin 68), Armstrong, Carneige.
Subs Not Used: Kauzeni, Milton, Hattabi, Lukuni.
Goals: Cray – Frederico 7mins. Leafe – Wilson 5mins.
HT 1-1 FT 1-1
Att: 140
Referee: Mr P Cruise