Cray maintained their 100% league record with a controlled win over East Grinstead Town at a sunny Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon thanks to a goal in each half and another clean sheet.
The Wands started on the front foot with Junior Dadson hitting the underside of the bar early on, but the ball bounced back off the line into play. Despite having the better of things Cray did come under pressure from The Wasps with Callum Emptage heading wide for a corner and Marcus Elliott being denied by a last ditch challenge from Mitchell Nelson.
The Wands continued to press though with wingers Junior Dadson and Jerome Frederico both causing problems, along with the strong hold up play of Michael Power and their controlled passing game. The home side eventually went in front on 25minutes when Frederico broke down the right and cut into the box before hitting a low cross shot that deflected in off Emptage giving the visitors’ keeper Sheikh Ceesay no chance.
Soon after Power and Frederico combined again only for Ceesay to make a good save from the wide man. Late in the half East Grinstead had a chance to equalise after a slip at the back from The Wands, but Ainsley Everett fired wide under pressure from Sean Roberts.
The second half saw play flow from end to end at the start before Karl Dent had a powerful effort saved by Ceesay. Despite play being more even it was Cray who extended their lead just before the hour mark when Ben Mundele powerfully headed home Dent’s corner to make it 2-0, the youngster capping a fine display at centre back with a goal.
Power fired wide after a strong run soon after and went even closer when he lobbed Ceesay from the edge of the box, but the ball just sailed over the bar.
The Wasps rallied and put Cray under pressure for a spell, but the home defence held up to the test maintaining their record of not conceding a league goal so far this season, with Nick Blue making a fine save from O’Shaye Giraud-Hutchinson low down to his right when The Wasps did get through.
With time running out Cray finished the stronger, Dadson had goal disallowed for offside after combing well with Power and then Aaron Rhule made a great run into the box before playing in Power, but the striker saw his shot blocked at the near post.
Tony Russell’s side now sit in second place in the league as they prepare to travel to Rusthall on Wednesday night for their FA Cup Replay.
Cray: Blue, Williams, Johnson, Mundele, Nelson, Pritchard, Roberts, Dent (Solebo 89), Power, Dadson, Frderico (Rhule 72). Subs Not Used: Parker, Vines, Leader.
EGT: Ceesay, Boulding, Miller-Neave, Emptage, Johnson (Springett 77), Yao, Everett (Landais 59), M Wilson, Elliott, Smith, Mazzone (Giraud-Hutchinson 72). Subs Not Used: Bray, B Wilsom.
Goals: Own Goal 25 mins, Mundele 59mins.
HT 1-0 FT 2-0
Att: 133
Referee: Mr J Oxenham