Ten man Cray suffered injury time heart break at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night as they conceded a 94th minute equaliser against Leiston denying them a vital win in the quest for league safety.

In an open and entertaining game both sides created early chances, Paul Vines forced a save from Danny Gay and Tyrone Berry fired wide while Joe Francis fired over for the visitors.

Ugo Udoji forced another save from Gay and Alex Stavrinou hit the bar for The Wands from distance as Cray played some of the best football they have all season, but Leiston still had chances too.

Craig Parker missed great chance when unmarked in the box, Joe Jefford had a header saved and Henry & Parker again were denied by Nick Taylor.

Then on 25 minutes Cray took the lead when Jordan Bird latched on to a great through ball and finished sweetly low into the corner.

Leiston then had a good spell of pressure with Leon Ottley-Gooch missing a good chance, but The Wands held out and made it 2-0 on 40 minutes when Vines found space on the edge of the box and finished coolly past Gay.

The second half began with both teams attacking Parker shot wide for the visitors and Stavrinou was denied by Gay, but as the half went on it was Leiston who dominated.

Henry headed wide and the influential Manny Osei was just off target as they pushed on. Cray’s management went with a back five to try and gold on to the lead, but they just invited more pressure on and the inevitable goal came on 68 minutes when a low cross into the six yard box went in off a combination of Adam Tan and Vines.

Parker fired over again as Leiston now pushed for an equaliser as Cray were pinned back, with a number of their players receiving yellow card for time wasting.

As Keith Bird’s men tired they lost possession carelessly and deep into injury time Henry broke free and was brought down by Taylor for a penalty.

Cray’s keeper was shown a red card and centre back Helge Orome took the gloves for the spot kick. Remarkably Parker blazed the ball over, but the drama was still not done.

In the 94th minute Stuart Broadley hit a 30 yard drive that wrong footed the stand in keeper and sailed into the net.

The visitors even had two chances to win the game but sub Tranter missed both his opportunities and Cray held out for a point which still leaves then at the foot of the table.

Cray’s attitude and commitment were first class, but again they faded late on and were made to pay for defensive naivety and lacked the vital ingredient of luck.

Cray Wands: Taylor, Udoji, Bird, James-Lewis, Koo Boothe, Orome, Berry, Stavrinou, Campbell, Vines, Smith.

Subs: Stone, Simpson, Larin, Fakinos, Beckett.

Star Man: Alex Stavrinou (Cray Wands)

Match Rating: 5/5

Att: 107