Despite being reduced to ten men after only seven minutes and losing two more players to injury at half time Cray Wanderers produced a resilient display to secure all three points on Saturday afternoon.

This game had everything for the spectators, superb goals, erratic officiating, a red card, heroic defending and a fine penalty save late on. With The Wands showing so much of the character and attitude that had made this team one of the toughest to beat in the league.

Horsham started the game on top, Lee Harding had a shot saved by Lewis Carey and then pressed The Wands back with a series of corners.

Ben Mundele picked up an early yellow card after being caught out by a long ball that seemed to have gone out of play, before Rob O’Toole had a shot tipped over by Carey.

Then on a break up field Horsham’s Jack Brivio was booked for a terrible foul on Jerome Frederico which later forced him off with injury. Soon after came the first major incident of the match when Mundele was just too late in sliding in to tackle Harding on the edge of the box and received his second yellow card reducing The Wands to ten men.

O’Toole’s resulting free kick hit the wall before Cray did their best to settle things down for a spell, keeping the ball and slowing the pace.

Joe Taylor had a goal ruled out for offside after a good move involving Bradley Pritchard and Rhys Murrell-Williamson and with the home side looking more confident they pressed and were awarded a penalty on 24minutes. A free kick into the box struck Dylan Merchant on the arm and Referee Ellsmore awarded a spot kick.

Taylor coolly stepped up and rolled the ball home sending George Bentley the wrong way to make it 1-0 to The Wands.

With Horsham reeling they fell two behind when a long ball up field was flicked on by Taylor to Murrell-Williamson who cut in from the right before unleashing an unstoppable curling effort from the edge of the area into the top left hand corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Cray’s two goal lead only last three minutes though as The Hornets rallied and pulled a goal back on 29 minutes when a deep cross from the right was hooked back into the six yard box by Greg Cundle to Harding who drove the ball home for 2-1.

Harding was outstanding for the visitors dropping off the front line and finding space, looking dangerous every time he had the ball at his feet.  The Wands, however, settled again from there and managed to contain the game right up until half time to stay 2-1 up. 

Tom Phipp and Frederico went off injured at the break, with Karl Dent and Geoffrey Okonkwo coming on, manager Tony Russell switching to a back three for the second half, with young Okonkwo putting another impressive display when called up.

The half started with Hornets midfielder Alex Kelly hitting the far post from a corner and they continued to press Cray, having long spells of possession and numerous corners.

Harding was just off target with a shot, Lea Dawson had a shot saved by Carey, Cundle fired wide after good work by Harding and Carey was again on hand to tip over a curling effort from Tauren Roberts.

Former Cray Wands captain Dawson had two headers from corners deflected over, before he was involved in the next major incident when he was judged to have been tripped in the box by Dent for a penalty, a decision that seemed to surprise everyone.

Harry Mills stepped up to take the spot kick, but his low well struck shot was brilliantly tipped round the foot off the post by Carey. For the final ten minutes Horsham lay siege to the Cray Wands penalty area, but the home defence stood firm.

Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson and Okonkwo all put their bodies in the way and made vital saving tackles. Kelly had a long range effort palmed away by Carey and Harding fired one final chance wide of the target, as The Wands held on for a hard earned win against a very good side. 

Cray Wands stay third in the Isthmian League Premier Division table and now have a week to recover from this heroic effort before they travel to league leaders Worthing next Saturday.                                              

Cray: Carey, Williams, Mundele, Leader, Nelson, Phipp (Dent 45), Pritchard, Allen, Frederico (Okonkwo 45), Taylor, Murrell-Williamson (Rollinson 84).

Subs Not Used: Francis, Rhule. 

Horsham: Bentley, Metcalf (Merchant 11), Sparks, Kelly, Dawson, O’Toole (Roberts 76), Brivio (Smith 70), Harding, Mills Cundle, Shelley.

Subs Not Used: Charman, Miles.  

Goals: Cray – Taylor 24 pen, Murrell-Williamson 26mins. Horsham – Harding 29 mins

Attendance: 198

Referee: Mr Tm Ellsmore