Cray Wanderers suffered play off semi final heartbreak at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night as they lost a seven goal thriller to Walton Casuals battling with ten men for an hour of the match and losing key players to injury.

The visitors got off to the perfect start after only 3 minutes when Joe Hicks headed home a corner, despite what looked a foul on Barney Williams in the lead up to the award of the set piece.

Casuals pressed Cray from the beginning not letting the play out from the back and closing down things in midfield, but The Wands still managed to create chances.

Aaron Rhule was fouled on the edge of the box by Max Hustwick and after Michael Freiter’s free kick was parried by Denzel Gerrar, Charlie MacDonald hit the bar with the rebound.

Walton’s pace, movement and energy continued to cause Cray problems, with Hustwick heading wide from a corner and Harry Mills firing narrowly over.

The Wands looked to be battling their way into things when disaster struck as Zak Henry picked up two quick yellow cards for reckless challenges on the half hour mark and was sent off leaving The Wands with what looked an almost impossible looking task.

Youseff Bamba and Tyrell Richardson-Brown were a constant threat out wide and Nick Blue had to make two good saves from Alex Kelly and Hicks.

Then in the final few minutes of the half Cray found a way back into things when Rhule bundled home a superb Freiter free kick to level the scores. With the visitors rattled Cray were soon in front when Rhule broke down the right and crossed for Brandon Scott to coolly slot the ball home at the far post for 2-1.

In injury time Richardson-Brown forced a fine stop from Blue which kept The Wands in front at the break.

The second half saw Walton Casuals come out looking to press Cray and they pushed then deeper and deeper, Richardson-Brown hit the woodwork with a header at the far post, before they drew level on 55 minutes when sub Daryl Coleman hit an unstoppable 30 yarder past blue to make it 2-2.

Despite Scott and Rhule limping off Cray continued to battle and look to hit Casuals on the break, Ben Mundele suffering an awful challenge from Dominic Ogun, which saw the visitors’ left back show a yellow card.

Despite the best Baldwin’s run towards the box before he crashed the ball home from 18 yards. Freiter had a chance saved after a good run from Williams and Junior Dadson had a powerful drive tipped over by Gerrar, before the resulting corner was scrambled away after a frantic spell in the six yard box.

Casuals continued to create chances with Baldwin missing a great chance at the far post and Blue making a superb save from Josh Kelly, The Wands keeper denying Kelly again and Baldwin with acrobatic saves.

Cray suffered another blow when they lost centre back to injury after a heavy challenge from Kelly, Russell’s taking the opportunity to throw on another striker in Michael Power and he had an immediate impact on the game.

Firstly Power had a shot saved and as the game became stretched he drove the ball home from 25 yards only for Referee Lowe to call play back for a free kick after a foul on MacDonald, Freiter seeing his free kick saved by Gerrar to the frustration of the home fans.

Then almost immediately the game was killed off at the other end when Jay Leader slipped letting in Kelly who slipped the ball past Blue to make it 4-2 to Anthony Gale’s side.

Cray still fought on with Power going close twice, but right on the 90 minute mark Walton sealed the win when  Jack Sammoutis ran clear of the home defence fired the ball home to make it 5-2.

This was a cruel end to what has been a great season for The Wands and they will now have a summer to recover from the disappointment of missing out on promotion and regroup to launch another bid on the league in August.

Cray: Blue, Mundele, Williams, Evans (Power), Leader, Freiter, Henry, Dawson, Scott (Dadson 49), Rhule (Farrell 49), MacDonald.

Subs Not Used: Dent, Holloway.

Casuals: Gerrar, Mills, Ogun, Kelly, Hicks, Hustwick, Richardson-Brown (Sammoutis 63), Black (Coleman 45), Kelly, Sarpong (Baldwin 45), Bamba.

Subs Not Used: McCormack, Trigwell.

Goals:  Cray – Rhule 38, Scott 44mins. Casuals – Hicks 3, Coleman 55, Baldwin 65, Kelly 85, Sammoutis 90mins.

Att:  451

HT 2-1 FT 2-5

Ref: Mr M Lowe