Cray Wanderers and Greenwich Borough shared the points in this blood and thunder local derby between two play off chasing sides at Hayes Lane on Easter Monday, with the home side levelling the scores for the second time in the ninth minute of injury time.
Borough started the brighter with Kaka Dembele firing over early on and they went in front on 6 minutes when Jack Barham beat Nick Blue at his near post with a fierce low drive from ten yards out.
Ali Fuseini then put another chance over soon after when Blue scuffed a goal kick straight to the former Millwall midfielder.
Borough continued to press with Cray being pushed deeper and deeper into their own half, but following a long delay for an injury to Greenwich’s Dembele, Cray levelled things up on 22 minutes when Ben Mundele powered into the box and was fouled by Sam Corne.
Charlie MacDonald coolly chipped the ball into the back of the net from the penalty spot sending Michael McEntegart the wrong way.
The game then opened up with Blue making a brave save at the feet of Barham just after the kick off at one end and Junior Dadson driving the ball just wide across the goal after fine link up play from MacDonald.
Borough finished the half stronger with Barham firing just wide and Fuseini having a goal bound shot blocked by Jay Leader.
The second half started with both sides looking to attack, but Greenwich again took the lead eight minutes in when great work by Travis Gregory set up Barham to convert at the far post.
Karl Dent had a free kick saved as Cray looked to battle back, but Barham then crossed for Fuseini whose header was blocked on the line by Mitchell Nelson.
Borough looked to have the upper hand before another long delay for injury this time to Tom Carlse. The unfortunate Borough defender did return to action with a heavily bandaged head wound, but only lasted another minute before going down again and having to be subbed.
Cray began to create chances again with Brandon Scott crossing for MacDonald whose shot was blocked as was Aaron Rhule’s from the rebound. Rhule was the next player to receive lengthy treatment, which eventually added up to nine minutes of added time.
For the final few minutes The Wands pinned Borough back and did all the pressing with a series of corners and set pieces, but it looked like the visitors would hold on for the win until the 99th minute when Rhule crossed for MacDonald whose header was handled on the line by Callum McGeehan for a clear penalty.
The defender was sent off and following lengthy disputes about the ball going out from the cross and also Cray appeals the header had crossed the line Michael Power stepped up to drill the spot kick home to equalise with virtually the last kick of the match.
The result in the end was just about fair over the game, with both teams giving everything and fighting hard to keep up with the promotion places.
The fourth placed Wands now travel to VCD Athletic on Saturday for another local derby in the Bostik League Division One South, while third placed Borough are at home to Hythe Town.
Cray – Blue, Mundele, Williams, Leader, Nelson, Dent (Power 82), Henry, Rhule, Dadson (Scott 53), Dawson, MacDonald.
Subs Not Used: Farrell, Freiter, Evans.
Greenwich – McEntegart, Pritchard, Barham (King-Elliott 90), McGeehan, Dembele, Gregory, Paul, Fuseini, Carlse (Akionhabe 73), Corne, McLean (Tucker 45).
Subs Not Used: Hibbert, Dukali.
Goals: Cray- MacDonald 22pen Power 99pen. Borough- Barham 6 & 53mins
Att: 269
HT 1-1 FT 1-1
Ref: Mr R Whitaker