Although already crowned as Boxtik South East champions, Cray Wanderers put in a professional performance to win at Three Bridges.

Defeat for the hosts means that they still require a point to guarantee safety and it was important for the integrity of the league that Cray took the game seriously. Manager Tony Russell said “That’s something we talked about before the game.

“We spoke about setting our own standards as a football club, as a group. We put it back in their court as we said we’ll find out a lot about you as a group because if you’re a winner, you’re a winner. You shouldn’t need points or a trophy. If you want to go to football and be happy about losing you’re not really one for the long term so that’s how we played it.”

Nathan Simpson fired just over for Three Bridges then Ibby Akanbi headed wide when Lee Hall drew Nick Blue out of his goal.

After their slow start Cray threatened when Barney Williams brought an excellent save out of James Shaw in the Three Bridges goal.

Shaw was in action again when Mitchell Nelson split the Three Bridges defence with a superb through ball. Archie Johnson raced onto it but his firm low drive was beaten out well by Shaw with his feet.

Nelson headed home from a Freddie Parker free kick but he had started his run just too early and was flagged offside.

Freddie Parker twice shot over before putting Cray ahead just before the break. Nelson played another exquisite through ball but it was Johnson’s clever flick that split the defence and Parker fired home via the far post.

Ten minutes into the second half, another good move from back to front paid dividends. Blue picked out Williams and he burst down the wing and found Joe Clarke. He picked out Taylor and he finished confidently.

Akanbi came close to pulling one back but his shot came back out off the near post before Johnson was thwarted by an excellent save by Shaw.

Brannon O’Neil skimmed a shot just wide for Three Bridges and Blue made a good save from John Lansdale’s free kick.

In the closing minutes Blue beat out O’Neill’s free kick and then recovered to claim Hall’s follow up.

Three Bridges: Shaw, Berry, Simpson, Hall, Gunner (Douglas 57), Tennent, Sesay, Hallarde, French, O’Neill, Akanbi (Lansdale 81).

Sub not used: Clark, Oluwatimihelin.

Cray Wanderers: Blue, Williams, Carlse, Phipp (Mundele 84), Nelson, Etumnu, Roberts, Parker (Pritchard 76), Taylor, Clarke, Johnson.

Subs not used: Federico, Dadson, Dent.

Three Bridges:

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Cray Wanderers:

Goalscorers: Parker (42), Taylor (55)

Yellow cards: Phipp, Clarke

Red cards: None

Referee: Jamie Wells

Assistants: Dominic Barrow and Nick Blogg

Attendance: 99

Man of the Match: Freddie Parker

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.