Despite racing into an early lead and a late spell of pressure in the second half Cray Wanderers suffered a disappointing defeat at home to Haringey Borough at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night.
The Wands got off to the perfect start after only 3 minutes when Freddie Barton played in Jamie Yila who broke into the area and coolly slotted the ball past Alfie Marigliani into the far corner of the net for 1-0.
From there though it was Borough who had the better of the play, pressing Cray from the front and dominating the midfield. Cray came back into things after the first twenty minutes and could have doubled their lead when Yila played in Sam Wood, but his shot was saved.
Jorge Djassi-Sambu went close for the visitors, while Marigliani did well to deny Narcis-Flrin Filip when the Cray striker was one on one with the goalkeeper.
Just before the half hour Haringey drew level when a quick passing move down the right saw Djassi-Sambu win the ball and play in Alfred Rawling who crossed for Andronicos Georgiou to fire home into the corner of the net from just inside the area.
With Borough now pressing they went in front on 34 minutes when Samuel Owusu and Rawling combined down the left to set up Michael O’Donoghue to chip the ball past Joseph Wright and in off the far post for 2-1.
The Wands struggled to get the ball out of their half for a while before a late spell saw them go close through Chris Dickson who headed a Kasim Aidoo cross over and then Sam Wood shot wide after good work by Barton & Yila down the right.
The second half saw Haringey start on top again, Georgiou forced two saves from Wright as they dominated the midfield and forced countless turnovers of possession from The Wands.
Just after the hour Cray rallied, Nazir Bakrin headed a Barton corner over, Dickson knocked the ball past Marigliani to set up debutant Saul Kader who shot over the bar from ten yards out.
The Wands also had a penalty shout turned away after what looked like a foul on Yila in the box and Kader then had a goalbound effort blocked by two defenders. Jacob Munting then came on to provide more stability in midfield and The Wands piled on the pressure from there.
Barton went close from a free kick, Dickson headed over from a Munting cross and Dickson was denied by Marigliani at his near post.
Late on a corner came out to Wood who hit the top of the crossbar from 20 yards out with a half volley and The Wands had a series of corners, but Haringey defended stoutly, won every header and held on to secure all three points.
The defeat leaves Grant Basey’s team in nineteenth place ahead of their trip to Bognor Regis Town on Saturday, desperate for a win to put some space between themselves and the relegation places.
Cray – Wright, Barton, Aidoo, Bakrin, Williams, Yila, Brodie, Cook (Munting 78), Wood, Filip (Kader 61), Dickson.
Subs Not Used: Danquah, Hanfrey, Albon.
Haringey – Marigliani, Olufemi, O’Donoghue, Mitchell, Owusu, Djassi-Sambu, Rawling (Odeku 78), Georgiou, Aresti (Bessadi 68), Lemba, Cook.
Subs Not Used: Kpemou, Zamani.
Goals: CWFC – Yila 3mins. HBFC – Georgiou 27mins, O’Donoghue 34mins.
HT 1-2 FT 1-2
Att: 209
Referee: Karl Sear