Cray Wanderers picked up another win under interim manager Tim O’Shea, this time against Wingate & Finchley in the Isthmian League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon at Flamingo Park, despite the visitors having the better of the first half.
With Keeper Shaun Rowley unavailable, Kevin Kardel took the number 1 jersey and proved to be an able deputy in his first league start for The Wands, playing behind the usual 4-3-2-1 formation.
Wingate started the game on top creating some early chances, but their momentum was halted by an injury to striker Jack Newton, which eventually saw him have to go off.
After a delay for treatment, Camilo Restrepo hit the post and Kardel made a good save low down to his left to deny Ore Bello. Against the run of play Cray took the lead on 18 minutes when despite colliding with Toby Byron, Tom Bonner found Joshua Williams down the right and when his cross was only half cleared, Nyren Clunis volleyed home from 20 yards out to make it 1-0 to The Wands.
Wingate responded from there with Bello having a shot saved before they did draw level on 28minutes when Theo Alexandrou cut the ball back from the bye line for Jaiden Drakes-Thomas to side foot home the equaliser. The Wands rallied from there, with Soul Kader and Clunis going close, before Bello put a good opportunity wide at the other end.
Ike Orji fired wide from a Frankie Raymond corner and Raymond then had a shot saved by former Wands keeper Charlie Grainger in the visitors’ goal.
The second breakthrough for Cray came on 44 minutes when Lateef Adaja crossed from the left for Kader who bravely headed home for 2-1, despite Wingate protests that Grainger had the ball under his control when the Bromley loanee striker made contact with the ball.
The second half saw Cray make the perfect start, Eze Ebuzoeme played a great pass to Williams on the right, who cut in and coolly sotted the ball home for 3-1 on 47 minutes.
The Wands then had a spell of corners before Adaja played in a great ball to Kader who was denied by a saving tackle and Raymond then went close. With twengty minutes left, the game was then halted for several minutes when Finchley sub Tommy Roberts collided with the perimeter fence in a challenge with Darion Dowrich and received a nasty looking head injury, which required treatment from both physios, before he thankfully was able to get back to his feet and walk to the dressing room.
Once play re-started, Clunis set up Kader who had a shot saved by Grainger, but the in form striker did bag his second goal of the game on 83 minutes when he cut across the edge of the area and then found the corner of the net with a sublime finish for 4-1.
Late on Dowrich was probably lucky not to receive a second yellow when he tried to pull back Bello, who broke clear with the Ref playing advantage, only to see his shot well saved by Kardel.
The final chance of the game fell to Williams who struck the post with a powerful shot from just inside the box ending what had been a dominant second half display from O’Shea’s side.
The Wands remain tenth in the table ahead of their trip to Horsham on Good Friday.
Cray – Kardel, Orji, Dowrich, Bonner, Sutton, Adaja (Morley 95), Raymond, Ebuzoeme, Clunis (Warwick 93), Williams, Kader (Borders 92) Subs Not Used: McQueen-Hinckley, Owoahene-Akyeampong.
Wingate – Grainger, Keller, Byron, Cracknell, Frempah (Emovan 73), Iontton, Bello, Lowe (Roberts 45, Garrett-Douglas 72), Newton (Drakes-Thomas 10) , Restrepo, Alexandrou. Subs Not Used: Watt.
Goals; CWFC – Clunis 18, Williams 47, Kader 44 & 83mins. WFFC – Drakes-Thomas 28mins.
HT 2-1 FT 4-1
Att: 539
Referee: Oliver Kaya