Cray Wanderers edged a hugely entertaining game between two sides challenging for the play offs thanks to a superb late goal from Mitch Chapman against Aveley at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The game got off to an open attacking start, at a fierce pace, with play flowing from end to end. The play then developed a more physical edge, Dan Bassett was caught off the ball by Harry Gibbs on the by-line and had to have lengthy treatment, then soon after Kellen Fisher was also treated by the Physio following a head injury, which the Referee failed to stop the game for.
Aveley had the first chance of the match when Kenny Aileru got to a high ball before Cray keeper Shaun Rowley, but he touched the ball just wide.
Garrett Kelly then played in Blaise Riley-Snow, but Rowley was on hand to make the save and he also gathered the ball from the corner after a deflection sent the ball goalwards.
Late on Cray threatened when Sam Skeffington played in Nyren Clunis, but fired his chance narrowly wide from just inside the area.
The second half started with Cray looking positive and they went in front on 54 minutes when Ben Krauhus set up Tom Derry and he drove the ball low into the net from just inside the area for 1-0.
The Wands almost when two up on the next attack when Skeffington played in Bassett down the wing, but the lively winger’s cross just evaded Derry in the box.
Going into the hour Aveley came back into things and started to look the more dangerous. The Millers’ pressure eventually paid off when Benas Valvada crossed from the right for Tom Stephen who powered his header past Rowley to equalise.
The game look set to end all sqaure right up until the 85th minute when Krauhuas pounced on a loose ball out of the Aveley defence and he played in Mitch Chapman who let fly an unstoppable low drive from 25 yards that Millers keeper Jonathan North got a hand to, but he could only push the ball up in the roof of the net.
Late on in injury time Aveley had two free kicks just outside the box, but both Kelly and Valvada’s efforts were both repelled by The Wands defence and they held on for an impressive three points.
Cray remain in seventh place ahead of their trip to Lewes next Saturday.
Cray: Rowley, Fisher, Sodje, Carter (Christie 63), Jones, Skeffington, Krauhuas, Ijaha (Chapman 47), Derry, Clunis (Bamba 84).
Subs Not Used: Cook, Ademiluyi.
Aveley: North, Nzengo, Stephen, Witherspoon, Scott, Gibbs, Aileru (Valvada 68), Kelly, Sykes, Riley-Snow (Shabani 73), Diedrick-Roberts (Odelusi 88).
Subs not Used: Dicks, Dasho.
Goals: CWFC – Derry 54, Chapman 85mins. AFC – Stephen 79mins.
Referee: Vladyslav Bakulin
Att: 243
HT 0-0 FT 2-1