Cray Wanderers began life under new manager Neil Smith with a narrow defeat to an in form Kingstonian side who taught The Wands a lesson in taking your chances at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Wands began the game on the front foot and looked really positive with Sam Wood, Anthony Cook and Chris Dickson causing Ks problems in attack.
After a series of fouls around the visitors’ area, Cray’s pressure finally paid off on 18 minutes when and Cook free kick from 25 yards out deflected off the Ks wall and looped into the net giving their keeper Julian Schwarzer no chance.
Cray’s lead only lasted two minutes though, when Teo Kurtaran broke down the right and crossed from the bye line for Daniel Ajakaiye to tap the ball home from three yards out and make it 1-1.
Soon after Kingstonian midfielder Kershaney Samuels was very lucky to escape any punishment for an awful late challenge on Ethan Kaiser who had to undergo a long spell of treatment before play could continue.
Once the game got going again Wood put in a great pass to Cook, but The Wands top scorer put his chance wide when one on one with Schwarzer.
Just before the half ended Tom Bolarinwa and Kasim Aidoo set up Wood who put in another great cross into the box, which Dickson just failed to connect to as it skidded wide.
The second half saw Ks start the more dangerous, with sub Walter Figueira making a real positive impact for Hayden Bird’s side. Alex Addai went close for the visitors with a shot across goal and then after Bolarinwa had a shot saved at the other end, Kingstonian took the lead when a corner from the right fell to Figueira who converted from six yards out with the home defence static.
Cray rallied after falling behind, Jamie Yila and Wood exchanging a one two on the edge of the area, before Yila saw his shot blocked by two defenders and go out for a corner.
Minutes later sub Kyel Reid hit the bar from 25 yards out and Smith’s side continued to press, but just lacked the final ball too often when it mattered.
Kenny Beaney fired a free kick narrowly over for Kingstonian, before The Wands pressed again, but still to no avail. Cray keeper Joe Wright and Figueira were involved in a nasty collision on the edge of the box and they challenged for a loose ball and they both had lengthy treatment for head injuries, which saw seven minutes of added on time.
Deep into the injury time Cook crossed for Wood whose header was tipped over by Schwarzer and from the corner Ks managed to clear the ball off the line, which then came out to Narcin-Florin Filip whose low driven effort was well saved by Schwarzer to secure all three points for the visitors on a frustrating afternoon for Cray Wands.
The defeat leaves Cray third from bottom and with Leatherhead and East Thurrock both winning, while Merstham and Brightlingsea Regent both lost, there are five teams now competing to avoid finishing in the bottom three relegation places with only a handful of matches left.
Cray: Wright, Barton, Aidoo, Kaiser, Hanfrey, Wood, Yila (Florin 77), Cook, Bakrin, Smith (Bolarinwa 32) (Reid 60), Dickson.
Subs Not Used: Huxter, Danquah.
Kingstonian: Schwarzer, Sow, Saraiva, Cooper, Skura (Young 45), Beaney, Samuels, Theobolds, Ajakaiye, Kurturan (Figueira 45), Addai (Pearch 77).
Subs Not Used: Wilson, Sanneh.
Goals: CWFC – Cook 18mins. KFC – Ajakaiye 20mins, Figueira 55mins.
Ref: Kane Dempster.
HT 1-1 FT 1-2
Att: 306