Cray Wanderers picked up a vital three points at a chilly Hayes Lane on Wednesday night as they overcame an in form Horsham side thanks to a debut goal from Kyel Reid and second half strikes from Chris Dickson & Jamie Yila.
The game started with Horsham having the better of things, but it was The Wands who had the first real chance when Cameron Brodie fired over.
Lucas Rodrigues scuffed a chance wide for The Hornets, before Cray took the lead on 16 minutes. Brodie cut in from the left and played the ball along the edge of the area to Reid who coolly slotted the ball low into the corner of the net for 1-0 on his debut.
Yila hit the side netting from a free kick soon after, before Horsham had a strong spell of pressure going into the half. The Hornets were kept at bay by The Wands defence with Sam Skeffington making a superb saving tackle to deny Tom Richards on the edge of the box late on.
With sleet coming down at the start of the second half Horsham started well again, but Cray were resolute in defence and going into the hour they started to create some chance themselves.
Brodie and Reid combined to set up Dickson, but his header was well saved by Sam Howes in the visitors’ goal. With the game wide open and play going from end to end, Horsham went close when Lee Harding curled a shot from range just wide, while at the other end Skeffington fired over from distance after winning the ball in midfield.
A great ball from Jai Reason found Dickson who raced clear, but his lobbed effort landed on the roof of the net. With just under 15 minutes left The Wands doubled their lead when Yila cut in from the right & hit a powerful shot from 20 yards, which Howes parried out for Dickson to smash the ball home making it 2-0.
Antony Cook then had a free kick saved, before The Wands made it 3-0 when Brodie played a superb ball to Yila who broke into the box and drilled it low into the goal past Howes.
With Cray looking full of confidence Dickson went close and sub Erald Desa fired over when well placed after good work from Daniel Uchechi, but it was Horsham who scored the final goal two minutes into injury time. Eddie D’Sane was brought down in the box by Ethan Kaiser and Charlie Harris dispatched the spot kick right on the final whistle to deny The Wands their clean sheet.
The win puts Danny Kedwell’s side up to nineteenth in the Isthmian League Premier Division table ahead of their home game with Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.
Cray: Turner, Barton, Aidoo, Beckwith, Kaiser, Yila, Reason, Brodie, Skeffington (Uchechi 82)Dickson (Desa 85), Reid (Cook 69).
Subs Not Used: Danquah.
Horsham: Howes, Day, Sparks, Tuck, Dudley, Brivio, Rodrigues, Kavanagh (Harding 57), Hester-Cook (Harris 66), O’Toole (D’Sane 79), Richards.
Subs Not Used: Metcalf, Miles.
Goals; CWFC – Reid 16, Dickson 77, Yila 81mins. HFC- Harris (pen) 92mins
Att: 213
Ref: Scott Rudd
HT 1-0 FT 3-1