Cray Wanderers recorded another impressive home win to keep them in third place over a tired looking South Park whose hefty fixtures schedule seemed to have caught up with them as they came up against a Wands side in fine form.
The game was only three minutes old when the match officials noticed that the goal at the benches end of the Hayes Lane ground was slightly off centre and the Cray management team soon moved it into the right position on the 3G surface so the action could resume.
Cray started on top pressing Park back with Ben Mundele and Brandon Scott combing well down the right, but the visitors did pose a threat on the break. The Wands pressing paid off when they took the lead on 9 minutes, Kyron Farrell’s corner found Lea Dawson unmarked on the six yard box and the skipper headed home past a static defence.
Farrell had a free kick saved soon after before Cray went 2-0 up on 17 minutes when Aaron Rhule put over a low cross from the left which Scott converted from close range. The goal was Cray’s 100th of the league season so far. The Wands continued to press Park with Scott missing a good chance from a Barney Williams cross and Charlie MacDonald headed wide after good work from Rhule.
Frustrated several times by the offside trap, Cray finally made it 3-0 on 32 minutes when Rhule surged into the box and coolly slipped the ball past Thomas Miles from ten yards out. Tony Russell’s side played some lovely football and continued to create chances with MacDonald setting up Scott whose shot was saved, but they made it 4-0 just before the break from a corner.
Michael Freiter crossed for Mitchell Nelson who headed the ball to fellow centre back Jay Leader to nod home from six yards out. Scott was then again denied by Miles when one on one, saving the winger’s effort with his feet in first half injury time.
The second half saw Cray take a while to settle and Park begin to pose more of a threat, Jack Mazzone putting an early chance over after doing well to hold off the challenge of Leader. Dan Moody hit a powerful 20 yarder that Nick Blue tipped over and from the corner Kieran Lavery headed wide.
The Wands rallied from there, Scott set up MacDonald whose header was blocked on the line, while at the other end Blue saved bravely at the feet of Lavery. Cray killed the game off though on 57minutes when Blue sent a long ball straight down the middle of the pitch and MacDonald coolly chipped the ball over Miles to make it 5-0.
MacDonald had a header saved from a Rhule cross soon after and Park created a good chance for James McElliott, but Blue was again on hand to save. Junior Dadson come on to almost immediate effect, initially setting up Scott who had a shot saved, but then converting the sixth on 67 minutes when he tapped home at the far post after Karl Dent and Scott combined down the right.
Dadson had a fierce dipping effort saved by Miles and the visitor’s keeper was able to deny the sub again soon after following a great ball from Zak Henry. Dent saw a shot saved before he turned creator on 81 minutes, setting up MacDonald who clipped an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net for 7-0.
MacDonald was involved in the final goal to, playing in Scott for the eighth goal to coolly slot the ball past the unfortunate Miles. Late on Dadson, Scott and Dent all had shots saved by Miles, the Park keeper the only reason the score didn’t into double figures during the second period.
The Wands now travel to play off chasing Walton Casuals next Saturday looking for another win to maintain their third place and home advantage in the play offs, playing confident, attractive and effective football that deserves a bigger audience.
Cray – Blue, Mundele, Williams (Dent 45), Leader, Nelson, Dawson, Farrell, Freiter (Henry 53), Rhule (Dadson62), Scott, MacDonald. Subs Not Used: Evans, Holloway.
South Park – Miles, Lovegrove (Lavery 45), Bird (Adebayo 58), Elliott, Merchant, Stone, McElliott, Gallagher, Mazzone, Moddy, Senior (Remfrey 63). Subs Not Used:
Goals: Cray- Dawson 9, Scott 17 & 88, Rhule 32, Leader 42, MacDonald 57 & 81, Dadson 67.
Att: 101
HT 4-0 FT 8-0
Ref: Mr R Whitaker