Cray made it two wins in a row with a very strong performance in their Kent derby with Herne Bay on Wednesday night, although they were nearly made to pay for not taking their chances late on.

The Wands started the game well with Danny Haynes linking up with Ben Mundele and putting in two dangerous cross shots, which were deflected wide.

Bay’s first chance fell to Billy Lewins after a slip by Zack Henry, but Nick Blue pulled off a good save. Haynes had a good shot saved by Toby Wood as the play flowed from end to end, while Adam Woolcatt and Mark Lovell went close for Bay.

The Wands put together a great passing move which eventually saw Haynes set up Luke Medley, but his shot was blocked and from the following corner Lea Dawson had his header saved.

With Cray on top Haynes went close with an over head kick before they finally opened the scoring on 35 minutes when Lee Prescott went on a fine solo run before coolly slotting his shot past Wood from the edge of the box.

The lead only lasted 3 minutes though as on their next attack Herne Bay were awarded a penalty when Medley pushed Darnel Weise challenging for a corner and Referee Packman pointed to the spot.

Lovell emphatically converted the penalty to equalise and after Dent fired over for Cray, Lewins nearly put the visitors in front when latching on to a Danny Williams pass, but again Blue saved well.

The second half saw Cray start well again, Haynes had a shot deflected wide and from the resulting corner Jai KcKinlay bundles the ball over the line from close range to make it 2-1.

With The Wands on top Dent, Haynes and Medley all went close before Lovell missed a good chance for The Seasiders shooting wide when through on goal.

The home side continued to do most of the pressing though, Medley set up Haynes who hit the side netting, before both strikers went close again and Dent hit the bar with a fierce drive from 20 yards out.

Just after the hour Bay sub Izzy Adebayo had an over head kick saved by Blue and then put another effort narrowly wide, but The Wands created further chances when Haynes curling effort from range was tipped wide by Wood and Medley then took the ball past the keeper, but his shot was blocked and Prescott put the rebound wide.

Herne Bay then rallied with Lovell going close with a header and Harry Brown putting a free kick from distance just wide of the target. Cray sub Brandon Scott had a shot saved by Wood who then denied Haynes again, but the visitors finished the game strongly.

Ben Gorham headed Brown’s free kick jut wide, Williams had a shot saved by Blue before the home keeper then fumbled a set piece which his defence scrambled away for a corner.

Bay had a series of corners which Cray managed to keep out before the final chances fell to the home side when sub Anthony Adesite raced clear and drilled the ball against the foot of the post and then had another shot blocked on the line from close range.

Cray were worth their win over the game and played the football that had seen them challenging for the play offs not so long ago, while Bay kept going and could have nicked a point at the end. The Wands entertain second place Dorking Wanderers on Saturday at Hayes Lane looking to continue the recent good run of form.

 

Cray: Blue, Mundele, Osibodu, McKinlay, Henry, Dawson, Dent, Roberts, Haynes (Adesite 88), Medley (Scott 76), Prescott.

Subs not Used: Guthrie, Lorraine, Law.

Herne Bay: Wood, Turner (Afoke 88), Sayer, Gorham, Quinn, Brown, Woolcatt, Weise (Adebayo 60), Williams, Lovell, Lewins.

Subs Not Used: King, Mansaray.

Goals: Cray – Prescott 35, McKinlay 49mins. Bay Lovell 38pen.

HT 1-1 FT 2-1

Att: 123

Ref: Mr J Packman