Cray suffered their third consecutive defeat on Wednesday night at Hayes Lane where they were beaten by league leaders Tooting who were worthy of the three points with an impressive performance.

The game began in windy and wet conditions, but both sides kept the ball down and looked to attack.

Luke Medley fired over for The Wands early on, but The Terrors went in front with their first real chance when Grant Basey slipped just outside the box and Dan Clements raced clear before coolly slotting the ball past Nicky Blue for 0-1.

From there Tooting pressed Cray with Clements going close again and Quincy Rowe firing wide before The Wands battled back with Danny Haynes having a shot saved after a good run from Ben Mundele and Paul Lorraine had two efforts from a corner saved by Kyle Merson, while sub Brandon Scott fired over with his first touch.

The Terrors then created some good chances with Clements & Michael Dixon forcing  saves from Blue. Sandy Cunningham hit both posts with a powerful drive after a good knock down by Billy Dunne and Ashley Robinson fired just wide from distance soon after.

Peter Wedgeworth crossed for Clements who headed wide, but then The Wands came back into things. A ball across the box came to Jay Siva who then found Lee Prescott who hit an unstoppable shot from 30 yards out that crashed into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.

Scott went close soon after, but Tooting had the final say in the half when Paul Lorraine blocked Dixon’s shot for a corner and from the dead ball Blue was unable to reach the ball through a crowd of players and it fell to Robinson who swept the ball home from ten yards to put the visitors back in front at the break.

Tooting started the second half on the front foot, Dunne fired wide early on before Chase O’Neill hit a superb low drive from the edge of the box to make it 1-3.

Dixon went close three times again and Clements had a chip over Blue cleared by Jay Leader. After a swift passing move Dunne hit a curling effort which was well saved by Blue, then Cray came back into things.

Medley crossed for Leigh Bremner who just failed to connect with the ball and the experienced striker also shot just wide. The Wands struggled with the final ball a lot of the night and also struggled to get past a very solid Tooting defence who gave them no time or space near the box.

Then with The Wands pushing forward the killer blow came late on when Cunningham crossed for Clements who headed home unmarked from eight yards out to make it 1-4 to the leaders.

Cray now travel to Chipstead on Saturday hoping to end their poor run and give themselves a chance of still pushing for a play off spot.

Goals: Cray – Prescott 39mins. Tooting: Clements 3 & 90, Robinson 45, O’Neill 50mins

Cray: Blue, Mundele, Basey (Scott 28), Leader, Lorraine, Dawson, Prescott, Dent (Henry 63), Siva, Haynes (Bremner 68), Medley.

Subs Not Used: McKinlay, Luchford.

Tooting: Merson, Robinson, Wedgeworth, Wilson, Patterson-Bohner, Rowe, Clements, O’Neill (Ademola 77), Dixon (McClaren 80), Dunne (Hoban 88), Cunningham.

Subs Not Used: Alimi, Mazzone.

HT 1-2 FT 1-4

Att: 214

Ref: Mr D Bandara