The Wands interest in the FA Cup ended for another season as a first half goal was enough to send Chatham Town into the 2nd Qualifying Round.

Cray who have been playing so well in the league couldn’t find the fluency as in recent weeks and their best opening of the first half fell to Andre McCollin who steered Grant Basey’s cross wide of goal.

Chatham took the lead in the 34th minute when Siao Blackwood received a long ball forward on the right of the penalty area and as Nick Blue advanced took the ball round him and calmly slotted the ball into the net.

Cray came closest in the last twenty five minutes and a decent strike from Dean Carpenter from just outside the area was fumbled and then claimed by Ryan Nicholls.  Then the hardworking Leigh Bremner was unlucky when from McCollin’s lay off his close range attempt was blocked for a corner.  From the resultant corner, Basey’s cross was headed over by Lea Dawson.   

Cray’s best opening fell to Bremner whose shot on target was parried away by Nicholls and the loose ball fell to McCollin whose effort was blocked by the keeper away for a corner.   Chatham came close when Charles Ofosu-Hene’s shot came back off a post. 

Cray:   Blue, Osifuwa, Carpenter, Reeves, Basey, Dawson (Capt.), Roberts, Dent (Moore), Bremner, McCollin, Orome (Ouani): Subs: Powell, Lodge, Deakin:  Att: 170