Cray Wanderers went top of the league with another memorable win in this impressive season, with a stunning display of attacking football that the unfortunate Ashford United had no answer for on Wednesday night at Hayes Lane.
The Wands started well on the front foot and were 1-0 up on 3 minutes when a Karl Dent free kick was flicked home by Charlie McDonald’s head from six yards out.
Cray continued to press with some slick passing football and the pace of wingers Brandon Scott and Aaron Rhule out wide. Lea Dawson had a header from a corner deflected wide before they went 2 up when Dent sent in a free kick from the other side that Mitchell Nelson slid home from close range.
Scott had an effort saved by Kamurasi soon after, but from the corner they scored their third with MacDonald turning home another excellent Dent delivery from close range.
Two minutes later Dent was again the supplier when his corner was headed home by Jay leader to make it 4-0.
Ashford managed their first attempt on goal when a good run by McLennan set up Richeford whose header was saved by Nick Blue.
After a brief lull in proceedings Cray pressed again and they were 5-0 up on 36 minutes when MacDonald raced to the edge of the box and with fived defenders around him still found Scott with a back heel, the winger then took the ball clear before finding the corner of the net past the overworked Kamurasi.
The keeper making his first appearance back for The Nuts & Bolts after a spell at Greenwich Borough made two saves before the break to deny Scott and then Nelson, keeping it to five.
Tony Russell made two changes at the break, possibly with Saturday’s game in mind, but Cray suffered a blow early in the second period when captain Dawson was hurt challenging for a ball on the edge of the Ashford box and had to go off injured.
Their momentum was only briefly disturbed though before Barney Williams made it 6-0 with a stunning half volley from 30 yards out that dip in off the crossbar.
It was seven 2 minutes later when Blue launched a long ball down field which Ralique Lawrence bravely headed over the advancing Kamurasi and into the net.
The young striker had to undergo treatment for the collision with the keeper before continuing. Scott and Zak Henry went close for The Wands before Ashford notched their goal on 59 minutes when Matt Day made it 7-1 with a cool finish past Blue after breaking clear of the home defence.
The Wands continued to push on with a series of corners, but it was a goal from open play that made it 8-1 when Dean Carpenter found Ben Mundele out wide and the full back surged in field before curling the ball past Kamurasi from 20 yards out.
Mundele had another effort saved soon after before Lawrence capped off the scoring on 75 minutes with an exquisite flick over the keeper from just inside the box having broken clear of the visitors’ defence with blistering pace.
Lawrence curled a 25 yarder just wide late on and at the other end Leader cleared Ira Jackson’s shot from out wide off the line before the final whistle came.
Ashford United’s supporters deserve a special mention for travelling in numbers and getting behind their team during the whole match despite the result.
Cray now face long time leaders Lewes at Hayes Lane on Saturday in what promises to be a fantastic match up between two very good sides looking to gain an advantage in the promotion race, while new Ashford coach Gary Alexander will have to try and pick up his side for their derby with Hythe.
Cray: Blue, Mundele, Williams, Leader, Nelson, Dawson (Carpenter 48), Henry, Dent (Freiter 45), MacDonald, Rhule (Lawrence 45), Scott.
Subs Not Used: Evans, Power.
Ashford: Kamurasi, O Williams, McLennan, Osei, Difford (B Williams 61), Toure (Jackson 76), Watters, Richeford (G Williams 70), Dalhouse, Bingham, Day.
Subs not Used: Lee-Wharton.
Goals: Cray – MacDonald 3 & 22mins, Nelson 17mins, Leader 24mins, Scott 36mins, Williams 53mins, Lawrence 55 & 75mins, Mundele 72mins. Ashford – Day 59mins
Att: 239
HT 5-0 FT 9-1
Ref: Mr K Dempster