Cray Wanderers moved up to fourth place in the Bostik South league table after an exciting game against Horsham at Hayes Lane saw seven goals despite the absolutely freezing conditions and the Wands second home win of the week.
The return of the March winter over the weekend saw a shiveringly cold wind during the first half and incessant steady snow in the second but there was much to admire about the quality of the football on show with Cray going into a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes through two goals from Charlie MacDonald and a Karl Dent strike before Horsham threatened a comeback pulling two goals back with over half an hour to go. However, Junior Dadson grabbed his third goal of the week to make it 4-2 before Horsham scored again with the last piece action of the game in the third minute of injury time.
There was one change to the starting line up from the 5-1 win against Whyteleafe on Wednesday with Brandon Scott starting in place of Aaron Rhule.
The game was a bit slow to get off the ground with the cold definitely winning the early stages. Cray almost got off to a good start when Karl Dent’s free kick from the left to the far post was directed off target by Mitchell Nelson.
Horsham who were beaten 8-0 by Cray on their last visit in the FA Trophy in October have been much harder to beat since then and possibly just shaded the opening twenty minutes and came close in the 19th minute when Ryan Worrall’s ball into the area was dropped by Nick Blue but following up Steven Metcalf fired wide.
In the 21st minute Cray went in front with a well taken goal when Barney Williams made a strong run down the left and his ball into the box found Junior Dadson whose shot was blocked by keeper Josh Pelling but following up Charlie MacDonald was on hand to fire into the net.
Horsham threatened when George Landais found space to shoot and his effort was deflected behind by a combination of Blue and the left post. From the corner, Worrall’s cross was volleyed wide by Metcalf.
For Cray, Dadson saw an effort inside the area blocked by a defender and then for Horsham, Hakeem Adelakun’s ball forward found Tony Nwachukwu but Blue had to come out of the area to clear although Horsham claimed a foul by the keeper.
Cray hadn’t created many chances in the first half but in the 37th minute went two nil up from the penalty spot. Zak Henry ventured forward and played a fine ball through to MacDonald down the left who strode into the area and was brought down by Joseph Shelley. MacDonald scored his second of the game and his ninth in the Amber and Black of Cray Wanderers with a composed finish.
Five minutes before half time the Wands scored a third goal when after Jay Leader made a run forward, the ball came to Ben Mundele who played in MacDonald who cushioned the ball to Dent who shot into the bottom right corner of the net from the edge of the area.
3-0 possibly flattered Cray a little bit by this time and Horsham pulled a goal back two minutes later when from a free kick out on the left Worrall’s cross into the area was met by Blue but couldn’t get enough purchase with his punch and the loose ball was turned into the net by Rogers.
Half time came as not much a relief but for this writer as a life saver and a much needed cup of coffee.
Half Time: 3-1
If the first half was cold then the second which now saw the arrival of snow was even more difficult to survive the elements.
The second half began with Horsham threatening with Landais’ shot from 25 yards well held by Blue. For Cray, five minutes after the restart Lea Dawson hit a decent strike from 30 yards which Pelling did well to push behind for a corner.
It then looked like Horsham were going to threaten a comeback when Shelley’s pass found Darren Boswell who cut into the box and was fouled by Mundele for the second penalty kick of the game. Landais scored his ninth league goal of the season to give Horsham renewed hope.
On the hour Cray almost scored a fourth when down the right, Dent’s ball into the area was headed wide by MacDonald seeking his hat-trick. Then substitute Aaron Rhule down the left played the ball across to Dent who shot over.
The nearest Horsham came to tying the game came when from a free kick, Curtis Gayler’s ball into the area found Shelley who couldn’t quite get a firm connection to the shot and went behind. For Cray, Dent shot wide from a free kick before Kyron Farrell came on as his replacement with 17 minutes to go for his Wands debut.
In the 75th minute Cray restored a two goal advantage with a classy goal worked down the left by a determined run from Rhule and his ball to the near post was despatched with great panache by Dadson.
This really ended the game as Horsham seemed to lose a bit of heart after that as the snow continued to fall and the Wands dominated the closing stages. Rhule who had a huge effect when he came on almost scored a great individual goal when he burst forward but pulled his shot fractionally over the top whilst another Rhule run and pass found Dawson whose effort was just wide of the right post.
With the game virtually over there was still time, three minutes into stoppage time for Horsham to score their third goal of the afternoon. They were awarded a free kick down the right and Matt Axell’s ball into the box was thumped home by the head of Lewis Hyde to perhaps put a bit of a flattering gloss on the scoreline but certainly Horsham had contributed to an afternoon that weather wise I hope I don’t have to experience again for a few years at least but in terms of football was a treat for the Sunday afternoon crowd.
Cray were perhaps not at their very best as they were against Whyteleafe but the key at this time of the season is to win your games especially at home and six points in a week has put momentum back into the Wands promotion push. Cray moved up to fourth on 75 points three points behind second placed Corinthian Casuals who the Wands visit next Saturday in what promises to be a mouthwatering contest in hopefully much warmer conditions.
There were some very good performances through the side, MacDonald was sharp throughout the game, Dadson, Dent and Dawson played well and Rhule and Farrell impressed with their performances off the bench whilst Zak Henry won the man of the match award with another fine display.
Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Barney Williams, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Zak Henry, Karl Dent (Kyron Farrell, 73), Charlie MacDonald (Michael Power, 76), Brandon Scott, 60), Junior Dadson.
Subs not used: Marcus Evans, Tiwa Fujamade
Booked: Dent, Williams
Horsham: Josh Pelling, Steven Metcalf (Capt.), Bailie Rogers, Hakeem Adelakun (Matt Axell, 84), Lewis Hyde, Joseph Shelley, Ryan Worrall, Alfie Rogers (Curtis Gayler, 56), George Landais, Tony Nwachukwu, Darren Boswell (Josh Street, 68).
Subs not used: Henry Watson
Booked: Gayler
Referee: George Warren
Assistant Referees: Alexander Bradley, Ciaran Fidler
Att: 164