Cray extended their lead at the top of the table to thirteen points with an impressive second half display against Herne Bay, Junior Dadson scoring four of the goals for The Wands.

Cray started the game on the front foot pushing Herne Bay back into defence and they went in front front on 7 minutes when Ben Mundele combined with Jerome Frederico down the right to set set up Dadson with a tap in at the far post.

Bay responded with Tahjae Anderson hitting a long range effort that Nick Blue did well to push away. Cray continued to have a strong spell of pressure though with Archie Johnson setting up Karl Dent down the left whose shot hit the side netting and Freddie Parker hit a dipping effort which Simon Overland tipped over the bar.

At the other end Mitchel Nelson made up for a slip in possession with a superb saving tackle to deny Jake Embery on the edge of the box. Nelson had a header well saved by Overland and another effort cleared away from the resulting corner as the home side threatened to extend their lead.

Late in the half Mundele who had been superb for the home side attacking down the right and in defence was hit by a very late challenge from Raphe Brown, which saw the Bay defender lucky to escape with only a yellow card.

The second half got off to the prefect start for The Wands when Dent played in Dadson to make it 2-0 on 49 minutes with a powerful finish from just inside the box and Bay suffered a further set back soon after when Anderson had to limp off after colliding with Dadson when challenging for a loose ball.

Cray continued to do the majority of the attacking with Frederico hitting a fierce ball across the area which Dadson headed narrowly wide. 

Herne Bay almost got back into things when Danny Leonard hit the foot of the post from 25 yards out and then Nick Blue made a great save from Simon Kabamba from the rebound. A superb ball from Johnson saw Frederico fire over before Dadson went close two more times with curling efforts from the edge of the box.

The Wands eventually went 3-0 up on 68 minutes when Dadson surged into the box and put the ball across the goal for Frederico to bundle home at the far post. Bay continued to fight and went close again when Kabamba crossed for Embery who saw his powerful headed saved by Blue. Dent had an effort saved by Overland before sub Joe Taylor was just off target with a header from a Johnson cross and then put a pin point Frederico ball just wide.

The striker did find the net soon after, but was ruled offside, although his contribution to the side was still important with some superb link up play as the lone striker. It was Taylor who was key in the fifth goal when Danny Rumbol brought him down for a penalty which Dadson emphatically dispatched for his hatrick.

Then in injury time Dadson was on the scoresheet again finishing some excellent work from Taylor with a close range dink over the keeper to make it 5-0 and the four goal winger then turned provider for sub Daniel Uchechi when his cross shot was turned home at the far post to complete the scoring and round off a superb display from Tony Russell’s impressive side.

The Wands now travel to Whyteleafe on Tuesday night before they return to Hayes Lane to tak eon Guernsey next Saturday afternoon.

Cray: Blue, Johnson, Leader, Nelson, Mundele, Dadson, Dent, Pricthard (Roberts 72), Phipp, Frederico (Uchecchi 83), Parker (Taylor 65).

Subs Not Used: Fujimade, Evans.

Herne Bay: Overland, Brown, Kabamba, Gorham (Freiter 65), Rumbol, Wilkins, Schaffer, Carlton, Embery, Anderson (Adonis-Taylor 55), Leonard.

Goals; Cray – Dadson 7, 49, 85 pen, 90mins, Frederico 68, Uchechi 90+mins.

HT 1-0 FT 6-0 Att: 191

Referee: Mr Matthew Pollington.