Cray Wanderers return to league action after a three week break ended in defeat as three goals in five minutes before half time set Chatham Town on the way to a 4-1 win at Flamingo Park with a Freddie Sears hat-trick and keep the Wands at the bottom of the Isthmian Premier League table after eight games.
Cray were looking to build on the positive performance despite defeat on Saturday against Tonbridge Angels against a Chatham Town side in 18th place but after a tight opening 35 minutes, the visitors turned the game on its head with three goals in five minutes with Sid Nelson heading in from a left wing corner. Then two minutes later Sears scored his first from close range from a corner from the right. In the 41st minute, Sears made it 3-0 from Jordy Mongoy’s cross.
Cray pulled one back before half time when debutant Stefan Ilic netted from Lateef Adaja’s cross but any hope of a comeback were dashed two minutes after half time when Sears completed his hat-trick with a classy lofted finish down the left of the area and Cray now are seven league matches without a win.
In the first of three successive home league matches on a mild night at Flamingo Park, there were two changes from the Wands side from Saturday with Stefan Ilic, a new arrival most recently with Dulwich Hamlet coming in for Charlie Edwards and David Smith in for Kenny Coker.
The game began at a pretty slick pace with both defences pretty solid and there were no real chances in the opening 15 minutes. There was an early blow for Cray as Darion Dowrich went off injured and was replaced by Anthony Cook in the 12th minute.
Cray perhaps were just edging the game and Nyren Clunis saw a shot blocked and then Cook put over an inviting cross into the area down the left which just missed a touch from David Smith and Clunis.
The first real shooting chance came for Cray in the 22nd minute when Toby King set up Frankie Raymond who from the edge of the area curled a shot wide of the right post.
The game was developing into an interesting tactical battle but from a tight contest the match turned in the 36th minute when Chatham Town took the lead. From a corner down the left, Jack Evans’ cross to the far post was met by a firm header from Sid Nelson who scored from five yards.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Chatham debutant John Ufuah’s shot was deemed to be deflected behind for a corner and from the right wing cross from Evans into the area the ball was flicked on and from close range Freddie Sears turned the ball into the net.
It got even worse for Cray in the 41st minute when Jordy Mongoy reacted to a free kick down the right and broke into the area and laid the ball across for Sears to score with a composed finish.
Cray though ended the half with a flourish of their own and pulled a goal back when Lateef Adaja broke away down the right and did well to cut the ball across for Ilic to fire into the net from 12 yards.
HT: 1-3
The next goal in the match looked to be crucial and two minutes after half time, Chatham scored a fourth as Reece Butler’s ball forward bounced through to Sears who turned down the left and hoisted a classy finish over Shaun Rowley and into the net to claim the matchball.
Cray looked to respond again and Ilic who had a good match saw a low shot held by Joe Wright and then after Charlie Edwards and David Ijaha came on, Clunis set up Adaja down the right who curled a shot wide of the left post.
Chatham saw an effort from Jack Evans go over the top from 40 yards and Bailey Akehurst fired over as the visitors looked to end the game with more goals.
Cray came close to scoring when Ilic found David Smith down the left of the area and her shot was blocked by Butler.
Then Anthony Cook made a great run forward from midfield and his shot from outside the area was pushed behind well by Wright for a corner.
Towards the end, Butler lofted a shot over from distance and then Evans shot over whilst for Cray, Cook’s left wing corner just missed the head of Smith at the far post.
Then Imran Kayani down the left found Kenny Coker who cut inside and saw his shot held by Wright.
In the end though, Chatham had taken their chances well when they came and moved on to 11 points and up to 14th in the table.
Cray remain three points behind 21st placed Bowers & Pitsea with Bognor Regis Town and Cheshunt also in the bottom four on 8 points and next go on to another big game on Saturday against Hastings United at Flamingo Park and looking to repeat the FA Cup win in September whilst Chatham Town host Potters Bar Town.
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Darion Dowrich (Anthony Cook, 12), Quade Taylor (David Ijaha, 55), Tom Bonner, Ike Orji, Lateef Adaja, Frankie Raymond (Charlie Edwards, 55), Toby King, Stefan Ilic (Imran Kayani, 84), Nyren Clunis (Kenny Coker, 62), David Smith.
Scorer: Ilic 44
Booked: Cook 70
Chatham Town: Joe Wright, Bailey Akehurst, Jordy Robins, Reece Butler, Sid Nelson (Charlie Naylor, 72), Simon Cooper, Jack Evans (Valckx Fernandez, 87), Kofi Anokye Boadi, Jordy Mongoy (Ore Bello, 82), John Ufuah (Kareem Isiaka, 75), Freddie Sears (Miquel Scarlett, 90+4).
Scorers: Nelson 36, Sears 38, 41, 47
Booked: Akehurst 59, Cooper 69
Referee: Craig Barnett
Assistants: James Perry, Leigh Ballinger
Att: 532