Cray Wanderers got life under Danny Kedwell under way with a superb 3-1 win over former manager Tony Russell’s Lewes at Hayes Lane on Saturday thanks to a first half double from Anthony Cook and one in the second half from Jamie Yila.

The Wands started the game on the front foot with Adam Coombes twisting and turning in the box before hitting the foot of the post with a powerful strike. Commbes then showed great strength to hold off the Lewes defence before clipping the ball just over the bar with his back to goal.

Lewes, whose team contained seven ex-Cray players, came back into things as the half progressed with Ollie Tanner looking dangerous down the left and he played a nice one two with Joe Taylor before firing just wide.

The opening goal of the match came on 16 minutes when a deep corner from the left was headed back towards goal by Coombes and Cook was on hand to smash the ball home on the half volley to put The Wands in front.

Coombes then missed a good chance to make it two soon after when Jamie Yila set him up with a lovely cross, but the striker blazed over from just inside the box. Freddie Parker hit a free kick just wide for the visitors as the game was broken up by a flurry of free kicks and yellow cards, but it was Cray who doubled their lead on 24 minutes when Cook broke down the left and cut in before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Lewis Carey into the net for 2-0.

Lewes rallied from there, Parker went close with two more free kicks against his old side before Tanner got Lewes back in the game on 37minutes, cutting in from the left and making the most of the space he was given to score in off the far post for 2-1.

With the game wide open Coombes and Yila went close for Cray, while The Rooks has a series of corners that The Wands managed to defend. Just on the break Lee Lewis, who was the only player featured in the Cray line up who had played for the club last season, broke free, but he put his chance wide of the goal.

The second half saw The Wands start well again, Cook, who was so lively all game, was fouled by Mitchell Nelson and the former Cray centre back was booked for the challenge. Yila was fouled by Nelson soon after, by the defender escaped further punishment and the resulting free kick went over.

Yila went close again soon after from a tight angle, while Lewes made their last two substitutions before the hour mark as Russell looked to change things up for his new team.

Killian Colombe fired just wide from distance for the visitors, before The Wands went two goals in front again on 67 minutes when Coombes showed great skill in the box to wrong foot the Lewes defence and set up Yila who converted from close range into an open net for 3-1.

Cray had a great spell from there with Yila setting up Joey Taylor whose effort drop onto the top of the net, but often the final ball was just lacking as Kedwell’s side pressed.

As the game opened up for the final fifteen minutes Michael Klass and Tanner had shots saved by Jack Turner in the Cray goal and at the other end Yila had a shot saved by Carey with Cook putting the effort from the rebound over.

Harvey Brand then set up Anis Nuur who was off target and then Lewes’ Nicholas Dariento forced a save from Turner.

Late on Cray Created more chances, Yila unselfishly passed to Coombes when well placed  and his shot was saved by Carey, Sadik Balarabe had a shot saved at the near post by Carey and Fjord Rogers went close twice, seeing a curling effort from 20 yards tipped over and then hitting a first time effort from range, which Carey also saved.

As legs tired on both teams Cray saw the game out comfirtably and recorded a first league win under their new manager in impressive style against a very good side. 

Cray: Turner, Brand, Okosieme, Taylor, Drury, Lewis (Nuur 61), Cook(Rogers 79), Brodie, Yila, Coombes (Balarabe 79), Cray. Subs Not Used:  Saccoh, Onobagbe.                        

Lewes: Carey, Walsh (Dariento 45), Wearie, Nelson, Klass, Tanner, Taylor, Parker, Pritchard (Coleman 56), Colombie, Allen (Olokoga 56). Subs Not Used: Dent, Richards.

Goals; CWFC – Cook 16 & 24mins, Yila 67mins. LFC – Tanner 37mins.  

HT 2-1 FT 3-1

Att: 305

Ref: Daniel Simpson