Resurgent Cray Wanderers and play off chasing Enfield Town battled out an enthralling eight goal thriller at Hayes Lane on Monday afternoon, but The Wands will come away feeling disappointed that it wasn’t all three points they picked up as they enjoy a start to life under interim boss Grant Basey. 

The game got off to a perfect start for Cray when after only two minutes a free kick routine saw Jai Reason play the ball out wide to Anthony Cook who crossed for Chris Dickson to ghost in at the far post and put The Wands in front.

Cray continued to be positive and get the ball forward, but Enfield always posed a threat on the break with the speed of their front two Mohammadu Faal and Andre Coker. Coker had a shot deflected over as the visitors looked for a response, but Referee Mr Gibson missed a foul on Reason in the build up and it was Cray who would feel aggrieved at further decisions throughout the game.

As the match opened up, Sam Youngs forced a save from Cray Keeper Bailey Vose at one end while at the other a Jamie Yila cross found Dickson whose shot was defected wide.

Enfield pulled back to level terms on 22 minutes when a low cross from the left by Lyle Della Verde found Coker unmarked in the box and the former Cray player converted to make it 1-1.

Parity only lasted four minutes though as The Wands regained the lead when Ethan Kaiser played in Dickson whose shot was saved by Adi Connolly, but the striker then squared the rebound to Yila who side footed the ball home for 2-1.

Enfield responded to going behind again by pressing the home side back, Freddie Barton made a great block to deny Percy Kiangebeni and Youngs fired over, but Cray also went close as Kyel Reid had a free kick saved following a foul on Yila.

Then with five minutes to go in the half Enfield drew level when Della-Verde cut in from the right and showed great skill to bring the ball back from the bye line and beat Vose at his near post for 2-2.

There was time for one final chance for both teams in the half when Cook fired over and then Faal crossed for Kiangebeni who shot wide at the far post. 

The second half got off to an open start with Della-Verde forcing a save from Vose, before Cray re-took the lead again on 49 minutes when Cook and Dickson combined to set up Yila who crossed to the far post for Cameron Brodie to score his second in two games and make it 3-2.

Coker was then denied by Vose following a defensive slip and from the corner Lewis Taaffe headed over. Cray should have had a penalty soon after when Yila was clearly fouled in the area by , but remarkably despite having a perfect view Mr Gibson waved the appeals away.

With the match wide open the visitors had some great chances to pull level, Kiangebeni had an effort cleared away by Kaiser after Vose was caught out of position, then Tom Hanfrey made a great block to deny Taaffe and Vose saved bravely at the same players feet soon after.

It was somewhat against the run of play that Cray extended their lead to 4-2 when Yila cut down the left and crossed into the six yard box where Bray turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Dickson on the hour.

More good work by Yila set up Reason who volleyed just wide from the edge of the area and he went close again after good work from Reid. Then with just under fifteen minutes to go Enfield came back to 4-3 as Faal broke down the left and crossed for Taaffe to convert from close range.

Cray had further chances with sub Erald Desa forcing a save from Connolly at his near post and Yila headed over from a corner, but with only three minutes left they would be denied what would have been a valuable three points.

A slow pass back to Vose saw the keeper caught waiting for the ball to enter the penalty area and Taaffe nipped in to knock the ball past him and roll the ball into an empty net for 4-4.

For the final few minutes Enfield did all the pressing, but Cray held out and secured a point that keeps them in twentieth place within touching distance of the teams above them ahead of their trip to Potters Bar Town on Saturday.   

Cray – Vose, Barton, Aidoo, Hanfrey, Kaiser, Cook, Reid, Brodie, Yila (Wright 89), Reason, Dickson (Desa 76).

Subs Not Used: Hassan, Oduguwa, Lewin-Thomas. 

Enfield – Connolly, Muleba (Taaffe 45), Kirwan, Thomas (Cunnington 64), Bray, Smith, Kiangebeni (Chappell 66), Youngs, Coker, Faal, Della Verde.

Subs Not Used: Cook, Gyebi.     

Goals: CWFC – Dickson 2, Yila 26, Brodie 49, Own Goal 61mins. ETFC – Coker 22, Della Verde 39, Taaffe 76 & 87mins. 

Att: 401

HT 2-2 FT 4-4 

Referee Mr Jorden Gibson