A strong second half display from Cray saw them secure another three points and keep them in the play off spots thanks in part to a superb Michael Power hatrick over a young Ramsgate side who were reduced to ten men with twenty minutes left.

Ramsgate got off to a bright start with Rory Smith pouncing on a slip by Jay Leader and having a powerful shot saved by Nick Blue.

Cray finally got into things after a slow start, Aaron Rhule firing wide after a good run and Leader heading wide from a corner, but they didn’t really get up to pace until late on.

A number of good balls into the box went begging before in injury time a Michael Freiter corner was nodded down by Leader and turned in from close range by Power to break the deadlock.

The second half got off to the perfect start for The Wands when Power was brought down in the box by Luke Wheatley and the big striker got up to coolly slot the penalty past Darren Hawkes.

Just as it looked like Cray had the advantage though they gifted Ramsgate a way back in when a poorly executed free kick routine saw the ball fall to Smith who surged up field and then coolly slid the ball past the advancing Blue for 2-1 on 50 minutes.

Smith nearly equalised soon after when his fiercely struck shot from 25 yards was tipped over by Blue.

Cray weathered a good spell from The Rams before they finally grabbed the initiative just after the hour when a Freiter free kick came out to Rhule on the edge of the box and the tricky winger created space before curling the ball low into the far corner of the net for 3-1.

Ramsgate then suffered a further blow when Wheatley was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Brandon Scott, bringing the wide man down on the corner of the area.

From then on Cray dominated, Rhule was injured in a challenge with Hawkes that could have ended in a penalty, but eventually they made it five when Jerome Frederico’s powerful run took him into the box and he unselfishly set up Power to complete his hatrick slotting the ball home from ten yards out.

Zak Henry had a shot saved soon after, but The Rams did end the game with the final chance when Smith hit a free kick just wide.

Cray now travel to Carshalton Athletic on Saturday for a clash between third and fourth looking to extend their fine recent form in the league.

Cray: Blue, Williams, Mundele, Leader, Nelson (Evans 73), Dawson, Henry, Freiter (Carpenter 65), Rhule (Frederico 75), Scott, Power.

Subs Not Used: Lawrence, Parker.

Ramsgate: Hawkes, Mensah, Penny, Crimmen, Wheatley, Jadama, Chapman (Lewins 76), Munday, Smith, Lawrence, Paxman.

Subs not Used: Millbank, Munday, Mackenzie, Mitchell.

Goals: Cray – Power 45, 49pen & 85, Nelson 58, Rhule 64mins. Ramsgate – Smith 50mins

Att: 132

HT 1-0 FT 5-1

Ref: Mr C Bodell