Cray Wanderers’ impressive unbeaten start to 2020 continued with a hard fought win over Lewes at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Wands started the game on top with Ben Mundele and Joe Taylor both going close from long range.
Their lively start paid off on 11 minutes when a long ball from Mitchell Nelson found Karl Dent who did brilliantly to control the ball and take it round the Lewes keeper Nathan Stromberg-Clarke before slotting the ball home for the early lead.
Lewes rallied with Charlie Coppola forcing a save from Lewis Carey with a well struck free kick and then from the rebound Jordi Mongoy set up Thomas Day, but he slid the ball wide.
Dayshonne Golding then set up Mongoy who fired over before Cray then took the initiative again.
Rhys Murrell-Williamson saw a free kick tipped on to the bar by Stromberg-Clarke after a foul on Mundele and the rebound was cleared away to safety.
Coppola was denied at one end before Charlie Allen saw an effort saved by Stromberg-Clarke at the other end.
Taylor also had a shot cleared before Cray doubled their lead after half an hour when a corner came out to Jay Leader on the edge of the box and he coolly drove the ball just inside the post from the edge of the box for the Cray second.
Some nice approach play from Lewes resulted in Coppola having a shot saved by Carey before The Rooks forward finally beat Carey when he curled the ball home in off the post from out by the touch line for 2-1 on 38 minutes.
The Wands finished the half the stronger with Leader setting up Murrell-Williamson who saw his shot saved before Taylor had an effort cleared off the line and Charlie Allen was foiled by Stromberg-Clarke who bravely saved at his feet in the box.
The second half started with Taylor going close before Golding had a shot deflected wide at the other end.
Murrell-Williamson crossed for Taylor who headed over and then a superb move involving Nelson, Jerome Frederico and Dent set up Murrell-Williamson who drilled the ball against the Lewes bar.
Murrell-Williamson then dispossessed Stacey Freeman to set up Taylor who was again foiled by Stromberg-Clarke. Coppola and James Hammond went close for The Rooks as the game opened up, before Frederico set up Taylor who clipped his chance just over the bar.
Lewes rallied again and sensed the chance to grab an equaliser, Coppola and William Medlock saw shots saved by Carey, before a desperate attempt at winning a penalty saw Coppola fall to the ground in the box, leaving Referee Lingarella unimpressed.
Cray continued to soak up the visitor’s pressure and despite a nervy final few minutes they held on for the win which took Tony Russell’s side up to fifth in the table.
The Wands now travel to Enfield Town next Saturday before returning to Hayes Lane to face Horsham on 1st February.
Cray: Carey, Williams, Mundele, Leader, Nelson, Frederico (Rollinson 76), Phipp, Dent (Pritchard 76), Allen (Lewis 87), Murrell-Williamson, Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Okonkwo, Hall.
Lewes: Stroomberg-Clarke, Day, Redwood, Malins, Chappell, Freeman (Dedrick-Roberts 73), Golding (Conlon 83), Hammond, Mongoy (IIic 56), Medlock, Coppola.
Subs Not Used: Yeboh, Reed.
Goals: Cray – Dent 11, Leader 30mins. Lewes – Coppola 38min
Attendance: 198
Referee: Mr Luidi Lingarella