Cray Wanderers continued their fine recent form with a convincing victory against Horsham at Culver Road.
This was the first of two successive Saturday meetings with the Hornets travelling to Hayes Lane on 7th October in the FA Trophy.
The game was basically won by the 31st minute as two headed goals by centre-half Marcus Evans and a Michael Power penalty gave Cray a degree of comfort by half time. Cray also saw an effort hit the crossbar through Power as the Wands put in an impressive display despite being without a number of first team regulars through injury and suspension.
It took five minutes for the Wands to break the deadlock as Karl Dent’s free kick was hoisted into the box and Evans looping header deceived the keeper and dropped into the net. The Wands extended their lead in the 16th minute from the penalty spot as Power converted after Aaron Rhule was brought down by keeper Josh James. Power then fired against the crossbar and despite claims the ball was over the line no goal was given.
The scoring was completed in the 31st minute as Evans powered home a header from a Dent corner before Cray despite tiring rather saw out the remainder of the game to go back to eighth in the league table.
There were a couple of changes to the side which beat Herne Bay last weekend. New signing Kyron Lightfoot and Aaron Rhule started in place of the injured Ben Mundele and Timi Osidobu. Dean Carpenter filled in at left back.
Horsham had beaten Burgess Hill Town in the Velocity League Cup in midweek but found themselves a goal down to the Wands in just five minutes. Cray were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Karl Dent’s floated the ball towards goal and Marcus Evans arched a header which appeared at first instance to be dropping over the bar but instead was misjudged by keeper Josh James and the ball looped into the net.
Horsham seemed a bit bewildered in the early stages and the closest they came was when George Landais fired over the bar.
Cray continued to move the ball impressively going forward and came close again when Rhule down the right found Dent whose shot from the edge of the penalty area was gathered by James.
In the 16th minute Cray were awarded a penalty when Lea Dawson superb ball through to Rhule down the left beat the offside trap and was upended by James for a spot kick. Michael Power converted his fourth spot kick in three games to give Cray a degree of comfort.
Three minutes later it was almost 3-0 when another swift Cray move saw the ball come to Rhule down the left who laid the ball across to Power who steered a first time shot against the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the arms of the keeper although at first instance it seemed the ball had crossed the line but no goal was given.
Cray continued to dominate and just after the half hour Rhule saw a near post shot turned behind by James for a corner. From the left wing corner in the 31st minute, Dent’s fine cross was met by an unmarked Evans who steered a header into the net although Power was claiming to have got a touch over the line.
This to all intents and purposes sealed the points as for the remainder of the game, Cray were able to take their foot of the gas and soaked up what Horsham could throw at them and the home side got a bit tetchy and were putting some strong tackles in.
Before half time, Horsham looked to pull a goal back when from a corner the ball fell to Toby House who hooked an effort wide. Then for Cray, Rhule fired a shot over the bar.
Half Time: 0-3
The second half began more competitively and Horsham had quite a lot of the ball but didn’t create too many opportunites.
Cray probably had the best chance of the half when Rhule was played through down the right and his effort was met by a good save from James whose blocked effort came to Power but the ball was cleared away.
For Horsham, Adam Hunt shot over the cross bar whilst for Cray, a free kick from Lightfoot found the head of Jay Leader but turned the ball just wide of the left post.
The game seemed to drag rather in the second half as Cray started to tire a little and Horsham offered a bit more in attack but found the Wands defence in outstanding form, with Barney Williams and Carpenter putting in impressive shifts and Evans and Leader in imperious form. Horsham almost pulled a goal back when a corner down the right from James Thurgar came to Charlie Farmer whose effort was blocked by Leader.
Cray saw another impressive young league debutante as Ken Charles came on for the last twenty minutes, the third U23s player to get his first team debut in the last three games.
In the last few minutes Horsham ended the game quite strongly, especially Steve Metcalf who made a good run down the right and laid the ball into the area for House whose close range effort brought out a fine save by Nick Blue diving to the left who had little to do for most of the afternoon.
The final opportunity of the game again fell to Horsham when Jack Hartley found Landais whose cross shot was palmed away well by Blue.
Despite tailing off in the second half, Cray were worthy winners and go into Wednesday night’s local derby with Phoenix Sports in good spirits.
Cray have been without several first team regulars since the start of the season and the players that have come into the side have done extremely well. The likes of Henry, Evans, and Parker have become first team regulars and don’t look out of place in the side. The defence was outstanding again and only 6 goals conceded in 9 games shows a side not giving much away.
Cray will now look to head into a busy October hoping to continue their good form and in what is looking like a wide open promotion race in touch with the leaders.
Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Barney Williams, Dean Carpenter, Jay Leader, Marcus Evans, Lea Dawson (Capt,), Zak Henry, Karl Dent (Michael Frieter, 77), Michael Power (Freddie Parker, 81), Aaron Rhule (Ken Charles, 72), Kyron Lightfoot.
Subs not used: Matt Hall, Tiwa Fujamade
Booked: Dawson
Horsham: Josh James, Steve Metcalf (Capt.), James Thurgar, Adam Hunt (Jack Hartley, 69) Charlie Farmer, Lewis Hyde, Dan Mobsby (Scott Harris, 48), Toby House, Rob O’Toole, George Landais, Charlie Oatway (Josh Street, 39).
Subs not used: Will Robinson, Michael Waller
Booked: James, Metcalf, Hunt, Farmer, Mobsby
Referee: John Pike
Assistant Referees: Wayne Webb, Paddy O’Reilly
Att: 169