Cray Wanderers continued their unbeaten start to their league campaign with a stylish and dominant performance as they hit seven on their way to defeat Faversham Town at a very wet Hayes Lane on Saturday.
The Wands started on the front foot with Malik Solebo and Jerome Frederico setting up Freddie Parker who shot just wide, but the early pressure paid off just after 2 minutes when Jay Leader set up Barney Williams who hit an unstoppable low drive from 30 yards out that beat Simon Overland in the Faversham goal.
The Wands continued to press with Ben Mundele and Parker going close, before Parker headed just wide after great work from Jerome Frederico.
Faversham’s first effort on goal came when Danny Walder’s free kick went just wide of the post, but Cray doubled their lead on 18 minutes when Parker turned provider to play in Junior Dadson who hit a powerful effort past Overland high into the net from just inside the box.
Tom Phipp had a free kick saved soon after following a great run for Ben Mundele, before Town went close when Dean Grant raced clear only to see his shot saved by Nick Blue’s legs. Parker headed another good chance wide following a great ball from Frederico, but the young striker did make it 3-0 on 35 minutes when he turned sharply in the box and slipped the ball under Overland’s body.
Just before the break Dadson made it 4-0 when Frederico crossed for the winger to convert on the volley from close range.
Faversham continued to battle and reduced the deficit right on the whistle when Michael Jenner lobbed Blue from 25 yards out, the ball arching over the keeper and dropping in to the net just under the bar.
The second half saw Faversham start well, pressing the home side, but they fell further behind on Cray’s first attack when Bradley Pritchard played in Parker who made space in the box with great footwork before firing low into the net.
Town’s Ben Wilson had a free kick tipped over by Blue, but Cray also had more chances when Frederico and Malik Solebo both shot just off target. Faversham pulled things back to 5-2 on 59 minutes when a quick break up field was sublimely finished by Ashley Miller beating Blue with a curling finish into the top corner of the goal.
Any hint of the visitors coming back into things were extinguished with two quick goals just after the hour mark, Mundele finishing of a strong run with a low powerful shot and then Parker once again making space with his footwork before slotting the ball past Overland to make it 7-2 on 67 minutes and complete his hatrick.
Parker was then substituted to give another young forward Ife Onwoachu some valuable game time. Cray saw the game out comfortably from there, Solebo had a shot saved and Dadson went close with a free kick after his powerful run was ended with a foul on the edge of the box, but the game was already won. Their quick passing style proving to be too much for their visitors.
The victory sees Cray Wanderers go nine points clear at the top of the table and was all the more impressive given the number of first team regulars unavailable, testament to the squad Tony Russell and his coaching team have built.
Cray: Blue, Mundele, Williams, Leader, Phipp (Evans 68), Roberts, Pritchard (Henry 85), Solebo, Frederico, Dadson, Parker (Onwoachu 68).
Subs Not Used: Cruz, Lewis.
Faversham: Overland, Cooper, Wilson, Jenner, Bourne, Walder, Carrington, Monger (Cook 69), Grant (Harris 61), Miller, Griffiths.
Subs Not Used: Benham.
Goals; Cray – Williams 2, Dadson 19 & 42, Parker 35, 52 & 67, Mundele 65mins
Faversham – Jenner 45, Miller 59mins.
HT 4-1 FT 7-2
Att: 135
Referee: Mr S Finnigan