Cray Wanderers continued their recent run of good form with a hard fought win over Bowers & Pitsea at a chilly Hayes Lane on Wednesday a night thanks to three first half goals, some slices of luck and a fine goalkeeping display from Lewis Carey.
The Wands started brightly with Tom Murphy crossing for Joe Taylor, who fired over from just inside the box, but it was the visitors who then went on to have the best of the early stages.
The tricky pace of Quentin Monville caused Cray problems and he burst through to force a save from Carey low down at his near post. Monville was denied again by Carey again soon after when one on one and Lewis Manor saw his looping header hit the post.
The Essex side were soon regretting their missed chances when Cray took the lead on 20 minutes as Barney Williams found Andre Coker who drove the ball high into the top corner to put Tony Russell’s side in front.
Bradley Warner blasted wide at the other end with the very next attack, but The Wands were 2-0 up on 28 minutes when Tom Carlse crossed for Taylor who coolly passed the ball low into the corner of the net from eighteen yards out.
Two minutes later it was 3-0 when Bradley Pritchard pounced on a defensive mix up on the by line and set up Carlse to slot the ball home into the far corner of the net. The half ended with an open spell of end to end play, but no more real chances.
The second half saw Bowers & Pitsea start on the front foot and looking to get back into things. Warner put a free kick over, which was followed by a series of corners.
Kenzer Lee went close with a header and Williams then managed to divert a Manor header just wide of the post. The visitors finally pulled a goal back just after the hour mark when Williams brought down Monville in the box and Referee Mr West awarded a penalty.
Warner stepped up and sent Carey the wrong way with the spot kick to make it 3-1 and jangle the nerves of the home fans. From there Bowers continued to press Cray back, Monville hit the outside of the post from a tight angle, while Cray only really managed an occasional attack the best coming when Jerome Frederico and Pritchard combined to set up Taylor, but the striker was denied by Callum Chafer in the visitor’s goal.
The Wands then lost Williams to a second yellow card and had to hold on with ten men for the final seven minutes. Max Cornhill went close with a free kick, Joseph Gardner hit the post and James Thomas saw his powerful driven effort tipped over by Carey. Despite a frantic finish from Bowers & Pitsea Cray held on for the win, which moved them back up to ninth in the table.
With Mitchel Nelson, Jay Leader, Tom Phipp and Ben Mundele all missing the young centre back partnership of Geoffrey Okonkwo and Harry Hudson did superbly well and with Carey behind them they were able keep the Bowers attack at bay.
Cray Wands now travel to Haringey Borough on Saturday in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup hoping to extend their unbeaten run of ten games.
Cray: Carey, Williams, Carlse, Okonkwo, Hudson, Lewis (Etumnu 78), Murphy, Pritchard, Dent (Allan 65), Coker (Frederico 71), Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Parker, Hall.
Bowers: Chafer, Stephen (Gardner 26), Cornhill, Lee, Leahy, Sartain (Knight 65), Manor, Thomas, Monville, Warner, Sammons.
Subs Not Used: Stokes, Baker, McCoy.
HT 3-0 FT 3-1
Goals: Cray – Coker 20, Taylor 28, Carlse 31 mins. Bowers – Warner 64 pen.
Att: 135
Ref: Mr Neil West