Cray stay fifth after draw at Wealdstone (From News Shopper)

Cray stay fifth after draw at Wealdstone

5:02am Sunday 22nd January 2012 in Cray By Jerry Dowlen

Cray stay fifth and in the play-off zone after earning a point from a 1-1 draw at Wealdstone, but on the run of play this should have been three points for the Wands.

Much was expected from Wealdstone after their dramatic 2-1 win against Conference opponents Barrow in the FA Trophy last Saturday, but it was Cray who looked the better side from the start, spraying the ball around confidently and putting the home team on the back foot.

Danny Phillips nipped a shot over the bar on 18 minutes, shortly after Chris Saunders had skilfully played Jack Clark in on goal from the left, only for the winger's delayed shot to be blocked.

Saunders then saw a goalbound shot kicked off the line by Wes Parker in the 21st minute.

Lacking a goal to show for their first half superiority, Cray carried on where they had left off, sweeping forward for Clark (twice) and Phillips to test the home 'keeper immediately after the restart.

A long overdue goal arrived for Cray on 58 minutes when a well-worked move saw Clark's flighted shot bounce down from the woodwork for Tommy Whitnell to pounce and head the ball into the empty net.

Unfortunately the Wands' good work was all undone two minutes later when a corner-kick from the left was headed in at close range by Parker.

Up till then Wealdstone had threatened next to nothing, and although the Wands looked briefly rattled, they soon resumed their box-to-box passing game, and looked the more likely team to score the next goal.

Having made a triple substitution shortly after their equalising goal, the Stones dug in to deny Cray a winner, although Joe Vines went close with a header from Sam Long's cross in the sixth minute of added-on time.

Cray: Walker, Long, Bentley, Saunders, Vines, Sterling, Whitnell, Perkins, Bremner, Phillips, Clark (Power). Subs not used: Ackland, Hall, Young.