Cray Wanderers suffered a second home defeat in a week by a single goal as they lost out to a late winner against Corinthian Casuals at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
Grant Basey brought Richie Danquah back into the side and Jai Reason dropped to the bench, keeping the 4-5-1 formation from Wednesday night.
Casuals started the game on the front foot, but didn’t really create any chances and then Cray had a good spell with Kyel Reid and Chris Dickson having shots saved by Daniel Bracken.
As the game opened up Oliver Sitch fired over for Casuals, while Jamie Yila had a effort saved after good work by Reid. Bobby Mills hit the side netting and put another chances over for the visitors, before The Wands had a good spell of pressure.
Kasim Aidoo drove into the box and forced another save from Bracken, before a series of corners finally saw Cray take the lead. Luca Albon’s delivery from the right finding Yila who headed home from close range to make it 1-0 to the home side.
Cray pressed from there, Freddie Barton & Dickson combined to set up Anthony Cook, but his shot was blocked and then Cray had a penalty shout waved away after a foul on Aidoo in the box, but just as it looked like they would go into the break in front, Casuals pulled level.
Cray gave the possession away just outside their own box and Sitch latched on to the ball sliding it under Bailey Vose to equalise in first half injury time.
The second half started with Cook firing over for The Wands and they had a good spell of pressure with Aidoo setting up Albon who shot over the bar.
As the half went on The Wands began to lose momentum and sit back, Elliott Bolton found Ola Williams with a free kick, but his shot across goal skimmed wide of the far post then Ricardo Thompson had a header saved by Vose from a corner.
With Cray dropping even deeper and trying to play out from the back they were architects of their own demise as they were pinned back by Casuals who pounced on several turnovers of the ball by the home side.
Jack Tucker crossed for Sitch who headed over and the striker then headed another chance wide after a good pass from Emmanuel Mensah. The pressure from the away side finally paid on with two minutes to go when Cray gave the ball away just outside their area once again and Bolton set up Sitch who found the corner of the net past Vose to score his second goal of the game and make it 2-1 to Casuals.
Cray mustered a late chance when Aiddo broke down the left and found Erald Desa at the near post, but his flicked attempt was saved by Bracken to secure the win for the visitors and leave The Wands empty handed again.
Cray remain twentieth place in the table ahead of their next home game with fellow strugglers Leatherhead at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night, which is now looking like a must win game if they want to survive this season.
Cray: Vose, Barton, Aiddo, Danquah, Hanfrey, Yila, Cook, Brodie, Reid (Oduguwa 80), Albon (Reason 89), Dickson (Desa 80).
Subs Not Used: Uchechi, Wright.
Casuals: Bracken, Tucker, Williams, Thompson (Diallo 71), Srange, Mensah, Bendle, Bolton, Sitch, Cadogan, B Mills (Adelakun 78).
Subs Not Used: Pinney, A Mills, J Williams.
HT 1-1 FT 1-2
ATT: 351
Goals: CWFC – Yila 43mins. CCFC – Sitch 45 & 88mins.
Ref: Mr Elliott Kaye