In a dramatic and entertaining game at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night Cray were unlucky to come away from the game with nothing as they were edged out by fellow play off challengers Corinthian Casuals by the odd goal in seven.

The game got off to an open start with play flowing from end to end, Dan Summers went close with a volley for the visitors before they were gifted a bizarre opening goal on 7 minutes.

Nathan Fox controlled the ball on the edge of the Cray box before playing the ball back towards goal without noticing Nick Blue was stranded on the six yard box and despite his best efforts the keeper was unable to scramble back and prevent the ball from rolling into the far corner of the net.

Cray rallied from there though and they drew level on 19 minutes when Karl Dent and Luke Medley combined to set up Danny Haynes who drove the ball past Danny Bracken to equalise.

Haynes and Medley linked up well as The Wands looked to pressure Casuals with Haynes forcing a save from Bracken and Lea Dawson heading just over from a corner.

Casuals though seized the lead again on 33 minutes when Reyon Dillon scored a superb solo goal, bursting through the home defence and clipping the ball past Blue from just inside the area to make it 2-1.

Late in the half Fox hit a drive from distance which Bracken saved to preserve the visitors lead at the break.

The second half got off to the worst possible start for Cray when almost from the kick off Jordan Clarke found Dillon with a well placed long pass and the rapid striker lobbed Blue from 20 yards out to make it 3-1 to Casuals.

Clarke went close soon after before Cray started to battle back into things, Dent went close and Ben Mundele headed a chance wide before The Wands pulled it back to 3-2 on 65 minutes.

Dent and Brandon Scott combined down the right to set up Mundele who swept the ball into the corner of the net from ten yards out.

Cray piled on the pressure with a series of corners looking to level things up and their efforts paid off on 71 minutes when Jay Siva’s in swinging corner was punched into his own net by Bracken who mis-timed his attempted clearance.

Both sides pushed for the winner with Dent going close after good work by Mundele and Danny Dudley going close with a headed from a corner for Casuals.

The winning goal came on 84 minutes when a deep cross from Josh Gallagher found sub Shaun Okojie who powerfully headed home at the far post to make it 4-3.

Cray tried to battle back, but suffered a blow when Jay leader had to be carried off and they never quite created the final chance they needed to get something from the game their efforts deserved.

Cray now have two more home games coming up entertaining Walton Casuals on Saturday and Herne Bay next Wednesday.

Manager Tony Russell will be hoping his side can pick up much needed points from these two and that the injuries to Haynes and Leader are not as serious as they looked.

 

Goals: Cray – Haynes 19, Mundele 65, Bracken OG 71mins. Casuals – Fox OG 7, Dillon 33&47, Okojie 84mins.

Cray: Blue, Mundele, Fox, Siva, Leader (McKinlay 85), Lorraine, Roberts, Dawson, Dent (Henry 85), Medley, Haynes (Scott 49).

Subs Not Used: Osibodu, Luchford.

Casuals: Bracken, Spencer, Hodges, Dudley, Strange, Ekim, Bettache, Gallagher, Summers (Okojie 71), Dillon (Maan 81), Clarke (Checklit 81).

Subs Not Used: Murray, Uzun.

HT 1-2 FT 3-4

Att: 104

Ref: Mr D Simpson