Cray kept their unbeaten home record going in another entertaining game at Hayes Lane on Saturday, which saw three penalties, five goals and a stylish hat-trick from Danny Haynes.

Lining up 4-3-2-1 Cray started the game well passing the ball round nicely with Ade Osifuwa and Danny Haynes spaying some great passes and testing the visitors defence with their pace. Lea Dawson had an effort saved and Brandon Scott fired over after a strong run down the left.

After a series of corners from The Wands they finally took the lead on 24minutes when Haynes surged in from the right and beat Martin Grant at his near post despite two attempts to bring him down from the Three Bridges defenders.  Three Bridges battled back into things from there Michael Wilson had a shot deflected on to the post and Alan Tait had another effort deflected over as Cray’s defenders threw their bodies on the line.

Bridges pulled level on 35minutes though when Tait was too quick for Sol Taiwo who brought him down as he ran into the box and Hakeem Adelakun sent Nicky Blue the wrong way to equalise from the penalty spot. Lee Prescott and Haynes both went close going into the break, but The Wands had to settle to go in level.

Cray started the second half well, Haynes setting up Scott whose shot was saved by Grant and soon after Scott hit the post from distance with Prescott seeing his follow up saved by Grant. Adelakun had a shot from the half way line attempting to catch Blue off the line, but his cheeky effort sailed just wide.

Cray still looked the stronger and finally re-took the lead on 56minutes when Sean Roberts found Haynes who once again surged in from the right and coolly clipped the ball past Grant from twelve yards to make it 2-1. Roberts set Haynes up again soon after, but his goal bound shot hit Prescott and was cleared away.

Wilson nearly pulled the scores level when his powerful drive was superbly saved by Blue. Cray continued to do most of the pressing Scott and Haynes both had shots saved by Grant before they notched their third on 80minutes when Hayes was clumsily brought down by Dan Mobsby as he broke into the area again. Haynes tucked the penalty away to complete his hatrick and seemingly wrap the game up, but it wasn’t that simple.

Five minutes later after Roberts had shot just wide Bridges were awarded a second penalty when Tait was brought down by Blue after he knocked the ball past the keeper as the striker ran away from the goal. Tait tucked the spot kick away to make it 3-2 to open the game up for a frantic finish. Haynes missed a one on one for Cray before Devon Fender ghosted in from the wing looking set to equalise only to somehow shoot the ball wide of the goal in acres of space. Haynes had a header saved at the far post as the clock ran down, then in injury time Wilson saw his cross come shot sail inches wide of the target.

Tony Russell’s men should really have never been in danger in this one, but for conceding two poor penalties, with their stand out performer being Danny Haynes who looked a class above at times today. Cray now entertain Hythe Town on Wednesday in a Kent derby looking to build on this win that keeps them in touch with the play off spots going into the autumn.

Cray: Blue, Osifuwa, Osibodu, Leader, Lorraine, Dawson, Taiwo (Mundele 75), Roberts, Prescott, Haynes, Scott (Adesite 81).

Subs Not Used: Law, McDonnagh, McKinlay.

Three Bridges: Grant, Mobsby, Dynan (Hayles 65), Adelakun, Donaghey, Pulling (Lansdale 58), Fender, Wilson, Tait, Garrod (Cassellman 20), Fernandes.

Subs Not Used: Cook, Howard-Bold.

Goals: Cray – Haynes 24, 56 and 80pen. Bridges – Adelakun 35pen, Tait 87pen.

Ref: Mr O Butcher

Att: 107