Cray progressed to the first round proper of the FA Trophy with a convincing win over Southern League Premier side Kings Langley at Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon and also reached a historic landmark for the club’s goal tally.

The game got off to a cagey start with the most notable incident coming when Cray defender Marvin McKoy collided with the post when clearing a corner.

The game then came to life on 8 minutes when Chris Dickson broke down the left and crossed for Anthony Cook who was brought down in the box by Will Hall. Cook picked himself up to take the penalty and drilled the ball straight down the middle to make it 1-0, the club’s 10,000th goal in its’ 161 year history.

Richard Afrane-Kesey then almost made it two when he broke free and hii his shot across goal just wide of the far post. Langley rallied from there with Harry Crawford forcing a great one handed save from Jack Turner in the home goal.

Cray continued to create chances with Afrane-Kesey and Dean Beckwith going close, but it was Langley who drew level on 33 minutes.

Alfie Williams sent in a dangerous free kick from the right which somehow evaded everyone in the crowded area and crept into the net inside the far post for 1-1.

With the away side now buoyant Williams then hit the bar with an in-swinging corner and Gary Connolly sent in a cross which Turner had to push over the bar for a corner.

Late in the half Afrane-Kesey hit a half volley wide for The Wands, but it remained tied at one all at the half. 

The second half got off to the perfect start for Cray when a corner frim the right was turned into the net by Dean Beckwith to put The Wands in front again.

Andy Drury then played in Dickson whose shot was well saved by Alfie Marriott, before the visitors came back into things. Williams saw a free kick tipped over by Turner after Richie Danquah had fouled Erin Amu just outside the box.

Roddy Collins and Jamie Jelis then went close for Kings Langley before the game was delayed for a head injury to Hall who had to be taken off.

Sub Eli Hearn headed a corner wide for the visitors before Cray settled down again, with sub Jamie Yila proving to be a valuable addition to the side. Yila forced a save from Mariott after great work by the tireless veterans Cook and Dickson and the home side got their rewards for their hard work late on.

Yila played in Dickson just outside the box who then hit an unstoppable half volley past Marriott to make it 3-1, the ball dropping in just under the bar before bulging the back of the net.

Then in injury time sub Daniel Uchechi made it 4-1 with his first touch, intercepting a poor pass out of defence and lobbing the stranded Marriott from 25 yards out to seal the win for Danny Kedwell’s side and take them through to the first round on 13th November.

Cray – Turner, McKoy, Aidoo, Beckwith, Danquah, Cook, Drury, Brodie, Reason (Coombes 80), Afrane-Kesey (Yila 62), Dickson (Uchechi 90). 

Subs Not Used: Barton, Hanson.

Kings Langley – Marriott, Hall (Hearn 70), Jelis, Collins, Amu, Williams, Crawford, Connolly, Johnson, La Fleur, Kastrati.

Subs Not Used: Axworthy, S Wood, J Wood, Kareem.       

Goals: Cray – Cook 8 pen, Beckwith 46, Dickson 90, Uchechi 93mins. Kings – Williams 33mins 

Ref: Tom Holden

HT 1-1 FT 4-1

Att: 185