Cray’s five league game unbeaten run came to a halt as a strong second half from Lewes saw the Wands comprehensively beaten at the Dripping Pan.

Such an event seemed unlikely at half time as Cray twice took the lead but two goals in the first six minutes of the second half rocked the Wands back on their heels and ended the game with nine men following the dismissals of Jey Siva and Danny Haynes. The defeat, Cray’s third of the season dropped the Wands down to sixth place in the league table and they still await their first ever win against the Rooks.

Lewes had the better of the early exchanges but it was the Wands who took the lead in the twentieth minute when Ben Mundele found Brandon Scott down the right. Scott then put over an excellent cross to the back post which found Danny Haynes who headed his tenth goal of the season from four yards.

Lewes though levelled the scores six minutes later. Good play by Luke Brinkhurst and Charlie Coppola saw the ball fall to Lloyd Harrington who hit a well struck shot which gave Blue no chance to save.

Five minutes before half time Cray retook the lead. This time the ball was worked down the left by Karl Dent, Lea Dawson and Sean Roberts to Jey Siva who put over another telling cross to the far post which again was headed by Haynes but was met by a fine one handed save by Lucas Covolan. However, Dawson following up was on hand to knock in his third goal of the season from seven yards.

The second half started very badly for the Wands and conceded two goals in the first six minutes after the restart. The leveller came fifty seconds after the break when a throw in from Harrington into the area was flicked on by Stacey Freeman and Jamie Brotherton forced the ball in through a crowd of players to make it 2-2.

Lewes went in front for the first time in the 51st minute when from a corner from the right, Coppola’s ball into the box again led to confusion and Brotherton was on hand again to turn the ball into the net perhaps via a Wands defender.

Cray’s hopes were dealt a blow in the 62nd minute when Coppola who was having a good game was brought down just outside the area by a studs up challenge from Siva and was shown a straight red card. .

The Rooks sealed the game in the 78th minute when the Rooks sealed the game with an excellent goal. Brotherton combined with Jack Dixon to set up a chance for himself from twenty yards and let fly with a great strike which flew into the top right corner giving Blue no chance thus completing his hat-trick.

The game got unsavoury with ten minutes to go when Scott was fouled by the right touchline by Dixon but a melee ensued and Haynes was dismissed for seemingly raising his hands to Dixon. The Lewes bench needlessly got involved and manager Darren Freeman was also sent to the stands for the final few minutes.

The scoring was completed six minutes from time when from another corner, the ball came to Duncan Culley who placed a low shot from the edge of the area into the net.

Cray: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Jey Siva, Jay Leader, Paul Lorraine, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Lee Prescott (Timi Osidobu, 75), Sean Roberts, Danny Haynes, Karl Dent (Bradley Woods-Garness, 85), Brandon Scott (Solomon Taiwo, 85): Subs: Ade Osifuwa, Jai McKinlay

Attendance: 523