Cray Wanderers bounced back from last Saturday’s defeat to Hanwell Town with a gutsy and deserved point from a 1-1 draw at 2nd placed Potters Bar Town.

The Wands who were without Dan Bassett who was injured in the warm up and also David Ijaha and Freddie Carter through injuries went behind in the 16th minute through Mo Kamara’s sweet volley but have shown plenty of resilience away from home and levelled in the 22nd minute when a Sam Wood free kick was flicked into the area and the defence hesitated to let in Mitch Chapman for a simple tap in from close range.

Both teams could have won it with Nyren Clunis, Ben Krauhaus twice and Chapman coming close for Cray while for Potters Bar in the second half Kamara, Dejon Noel-Williams and Adam Martin had opportunities but in the end a draw was about the right result over the 90 minutes.

There was a debut for loanee Kellen Fisher signed on Friday from Bromley for Anthony Cook and also from the Hanwell game into the side came Ben Krauhaus in place of David Ijaha and making their first starts following injury for Sinn’kaye Christie and Nyren Clunis in place of Dan Bassett who was due to start but for a knock in the warm up and Michael Ademiluyi.

For Potters Bar there were two changes for Sammy Moore’s team from the side which lost at home to Canvey Island on Tuesday with Dejon Noel-Williams and Rudy Allen coming in for Calvin Dickson and Isaac Galliford.

The attitude of Neil Smith’s side was spot on from the start and took the game to Potters Bar and the impressive Krauhaus set up Clunis for a shot which went just over the top.

Cray won a couple of corners and then Krauhaus in the area saw an effort blocked.

For Potters Bar, former Wand Kasim Aidoo hit a shot wide and were just starting to impose themselves on the game when they took the lead.

In the 16th minute, Frazer Shaw found Miles Mitchell-Nelson down the left and his cross to the far post was met on the volley by Mo Kamara for a fine piece of finishing.

Not for the first time away from home Cray have had to bounce back from an early goal and in the 22nd minute drew level when a free kick from Sam Wood down the right was floated into the area and flicked past keeper Ted Collins to give Mitch Chapman a close range tap in for his second goal of the season.

Potters Bar came close when Dejon Noel-Williams shot just wide of goal but Cray then had a good spell of pressure and Krauhaus made a great break from just outside his own half to charge towards goal and was unlucky to see his shot pushed behind for a corner.

Shortly after, Krauhaus won another corner and the cross from the right from Sam Wood to the far post was met by a firm header from Chapman which Collins did well to touch over the bar.

For Potters Bar, Finlay Titchmarsh’s cross was headed off target by Lewis Manor but at half time the sides went in all square after a lively first half.

H/T: 1-1

The second half began with Potters Bar on the front foot but Cray were defending well and the impressive pairing of Jalen Jones and Sinn’kaye Christie repelled the home sides attacks.

Cray did break away with quality and Clunis down the left cut made a great run and his curling shot went just past the right post.

Potters Bar came close through Kamara down the right and his cross-shot curled in and hit the top of the crossbar.

The Scholars then had a good spell and Lewis Manor played a good ball over the top for Noel-Williams who bore down on goal but his shot was saved by Shaun Rowley. Then Noel-Williams run into the area ended with Wood putting the ball behind for a corner.

From the corner the ball came to the far post for Adam Martin whose shot was pushed onto the post by Rowley.

Cray continued to defend well but couldn’t quite get the ball into a position for Tom Derry to win headers close to goal but did well up against Jacques Kpohomouh in the Potters Bar defence.

Towards the end Cray came close with another fine Krauhaus run and his shot was held by Collins and then Anthony Cook who came on half way through the second half fire over the bar. Tom Stagg once again looked lively when he came on towards the end but despite a lot of endeavour and some good defending from both sides the match ended in a draw.

There were plenty of positives and put the Hanwell defeat and performance firmly behind them but a special mention for Kellen Fisher who was excellent on his debut and linked up well with Ben Krauhaus and played the full 90 minutes and looked mature for his age.

It was good also to see Sinn’kaye Christie back and also play the whole game and Nyren Clunis who is a class player and played just over 80 minutes on his return to the team.

Sam Skeffington and Mitch Chapman had good games in midfield and the two centre-halves were excellent against a strong, physical and direct side restricting Potters Bar to few real chances.

The Wands move down one place to 9th in the table but only a couple of points outside the top 5. Cray move on now to three successive home league games vs. Brightlingsea Regent (on Wednesday night), Enfield Town and Aveley and with the away form solid, if Cray can improve their home record then could yet have a major say this season.

Potters Bar Town: Ted Collins, Finlay Titchmarsh, Frazer Shaw, Mo Kamara, Miles Mitchell-Nelson, Jacques Kpohomouh, Quentin Monville, Rudy Allen (Adam Martin, 57), Lewis Manor, Dejon Noel-Williams (Calvin Dickson, 90+1), Kasim Aidoo (Tyler Christian-Moore, 53).

Subs not used: Ike Olaiya, Sam McRitchie

Booked: Titchmarsh

Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Kellen Fisher, Jalen Jones, Sinn’kaye Christie, Sam Wood, Sam Skeffington, Mitch Chapman, Ben Krauhaus, Billy Crook (Anthony Cook, 64), Nyren Clunis (Tom Stagg, 82), Tom Derry.

Subs not used: Cerny Ando, Nathan Boamah, Michael Ademiluyi

Booked: Skeffington, Chapman

Referee: Ivaylo Kyosev

Assistants: Andrew Crossley, Gary Baker

Att: 163