Cray defender Arron Day had a heroic evening for the Wands in Thursday night's 2-0 win versus Met Police, clearing a shot off the line and helping to set up both of Cray's goals.
Cray Wanderers 2-0 Metropolitan Police
CRAY deservedly secured their place in the play-off final with an efficient though hard-fought victory against Met Police in a fixture that had been delayed by 48 hours after Tuesday night's rain.
The Wands made a jittery start, allowing the Ryman League's top goalscorer Craig Carley an early chance that he put into the side netting as Mark Willy chased back to challenge him.
Willy made another stopping tackle in the goalmouth and then on 15 minutes came a miraculous clearance off the line by Arron Day as Steve Sergeant looked certain to put the visitors ahead when a long-range shot from Scott Corbett was deflected into his path.
Cray gradually began to find their passing rhythm and gave Will Packham in the Police goal some work to do. He tipped away a Ross Lover free-kick and then gathered a snap shot from Lewis Wood as Cray came more and more into the game.
In the run-up to half time the momentum was all with the Wands. Colin Luckett ended a defence-splitting move with a shot that fizzed wide in the 43rd minute.
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Cray took the lead on the stroke of half time when Day's long throw was headed on by Ryan Royston, and Jamie Wood darted in to guide a looping header across Packham and into the far corner of the net.
Cray manager Ian Jenkins brought his team back on to the pitch halfway through the 15-minute interval, for a series of warm-up exercises and a group hug.
The Wands' team spirit has been formidable all season and was at its most solid as the Police pressed forward in the early second half but couldn't break down the Cray defensive unit.
For a twenty minute spell the Wands hardly ever had the ball anywhere near the Police goal, but they broke away to devestating effect in the 75th minute to net a match-sealing second goal.
Day combined with Lewis Wood deep on the right and Wood's surging run to the byeline ended with a low cross for Lover to sweep the ball into the net.
There was still time for Cray 'keeper Glen Knight to make a smart save from Carley and to clutch the ball from a free-kick as the tiring visitors made a desperate last effort to get something from the game.
Cray now travel to play Tooting & Mitcham in the "winner takes all" play-off final on Saturday. The two teams finished second and third in the final table, each with 86 points, separated only by a goal difference of +2 in Tooting's favour. But there is only one promotion place on offer into the Ryman Premier, as the Wands ready themselves for the most important match in the club's long history.
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