Cray Wanderers moved out of the bottom three with a stylish 3-0 win over Merstham at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon, thanks to first half goals from Chris Dickson & Kyel Reid, plus a second half header from Ethan Kaiser.
The Wands got off to the perfect start as after only 5 minutes they took the lead when Dickson held off the Merstham defence as he broke into the box and coolly rolled the ball into the corner of the net past Toby Bull for 1-0.
Dylan Adhei-Hersey went close for the visitors, but Cray were 2-0 up after 16 minutes when Dickson’s shot was blocked as Bull slipped in the away goal and Reid pounced on the lose ball to score from close range.
The Wands continued to press from there, Reid fired over soon after from a corner and Dickson crossed for Sam Wood whose right footed shot flew over the bar. Cray pressed from the front and gave Merstham no time at all on the ball, the work rate of Wood, Yila, Reid and Dickson was incredible up top.
The visitors did create one chance late on when Chace Jacquart did well down the right and crossed for Serge Makofo, but his shot was saved by Bailey Vose. Just before half time Jamie Yila closed down Bertie Lloyd and won the ball, but his effort was well saved by Bull.
The second half saw Cray start well, they had a goal disallowed from a corner for a foul on the keeper and Yila again forced a save from Bull. Anthony Cook saw a free kick deflect of the wall for a corner and from there The Wands made it 3-0 when Wood’s dangerous delivery was headed home by centre back Kaiser on the hour.
The ever impressive Cray right back Freddie Barton set up Reid who shot over, before Mertsham had their best spell of the match. Korrey Henry shot over after doing well to hold off two Wands defenders and Charlie Greenwood had a header saved by Vose from a Luke Cook cross.
Cook then had a shot saved and Jacquart fired over, before The Wands put a great move together when Barton and Cameron Brodie combined to set up Dickson whose acrobatic volley was saved by Bull.
Late on Adehi-Hersey crossed for Henry, but he headed wide at the far post and Cray held on to preserve their clean sheet and pick up a vital three points in their quest to avoid relegation.
Grant Basey’s side now turn their attention to the Kent Senior Cup when they travel to Corinthian on Tuesday night for a first round tie, looking to continue their winning run.
Cray: Vose, Barton, Aidoo, Kaiser, Barkin, Yila, Cook (Reason 88), Brodie, Wood, Reid (Albon 82), Dickson (Oduguwa 85).
Subs Not Used: Munting, Hanfrey.
Merstham: Bull, Haire, Mason, Gharbaoui (Cook 59), Richmond, Lloyd, Adehi-Hersey, Greenwood, Makofo (McGee 75), Anderson (Henry 45), Jacquart.
Subs Not Used: Hayles.
Goals: Dickson 5, Reid 16, Kaiser 59mins.
Att: 216
HT 2-0 FT 3-0
Ref: Jack Oxenham