Cray’s Under 21’s finished an impressive season with a hard fought Play Off Final win over Herne Bay at Sevenoaks Town on Saturday in a thoroughly entertaining match between the runners up of the Western Division and winners of the Eastern who had both won two legged semi finals to be here.

The game began at lightning quick pace with Bay having the best of the early play, but on 7 minutes The Wands broke quickly out of defence and Charlie Patterson crossed  the ball for Charlie Goodson to score with a well taken finish at the far post.

Cray burst into life from that point with Patterson and Richard Sesay both firing just over, following quick moves from defence to attack.

Bay’s Newman Poku was denied by a superb Adria Garcia tackle and then heading over from the resulting corner.

Cray winger Patterson had a brilliant free kick tipped over by Ben Kitcherside, but from the corner The Wands did make it 2-0 when Nyron Blackduke powered the ball home on 18 minutes.

Herne Bay battled back into things Codie Dean had a shot cleared off the line and was also denied by Nathan Edwards soon after, Steve Murray headed over from a corner and there were a few more wayward efforts on goal, but Cray held out under the pressure.

Late in the half The Wands finished on top as Goodson went close twice, Garcia shot over, Sesay and Reece Deakin both forced saves from Kitcherside.

The second half saw Herne Bay start well and they pulled one back on 57 minutes when Henry Dasofonju set up Ben Emery who finish from close range.

For a moment Bay looked to be on course to draw level, but against the run of play The Wands made it 3-1 on 63 minutes when Sesay finished of a quick move with a cool finish from the edge of the box.

Play swept from end to end with both sides play some great football, but not quite finding the finishing touch and it looked like Herne Bay were out of the game when on 75 minutes Poku was sent off for an off the ball incident, but four minutes later they pulled it back to 3-2 when a clumsy foul on Matt Martin resulted in a penalty which converted.

With Cray looked tired and stretched Bay had a spell of pressure, Tom Rickwood had a low drive saved by Edwards, but The Wands defence held out before Deakin broke up field and took the ball to the corner eating up the final minutes and securing the win for Ken Lodge’s side.

Goals; Cray – Goodson 7,  Blackduke 18, Sesay 67nins. Bay – Emery 57, Ledger (pen)79mins

Cray: Edwards, Seasy (Adibada 83), Lodge (Ngaka 84), Deakin, Patterson, Rubin, Blackduke, Garcia, Ives, Goodson (Mafuba 77), Chapman.

Bay: Kitcherside, Emery (Danon 60, Rickwood 84), Ledger, Partridge, Murray, Dean (Petts 70), Howell, Page (Wetherall 70), Martin, Dasofonju, Poku.

HT 2-0 FT 3-2.

Att: 120

Referee: Mr Z Moules