Cray Wanderers first league game of the new season ended in an injury time defeat at promotion favourites AFC Hornchurch.  This was after Cray had taken the lead in the second half.

Tony Russell’s new look side had the better of a tight first half and came closest to scoring through Andre McCollin and James Duckworth.

The second half opened up a bit more and Cray took the lead on 63 minutes when McCollin struck a fine shot from just inside the area which quietened the home crowd.

Hornchurch had a chance to level shortly after when they were awarded a penalty but George Purcell’s kick was well saved by Nick Blue.   Blue then showed what a good keeper he is by making a tremendous one handed save from David Knight’s goalbound strike.

Hornchurch got back into the game on 83 minutes when Purcell’s free kick from 25 yards was deflected and went in off a post.

Cray would probably have settled for a point but Hornchurch won the game in the third minute of stoppage time when from a floated free kick the ball was deflected into the path of Knight who bundled the ball home from close range  

 

Cray:   Blue, Osifuwa, Basey, Reeves, Payne, Lodge (Moore), Carpenter, Dent (Orome),  Bremner, McCollin, Duckworth (Ouani):  Subs:  Duckworth, Roberts:     Att:      175