Cray returned to the playoff places after a hard fought victory at fellow playoff contenders Brightlingsea Regent.   The win pushes Cray up into fifth place and three points in front of Cheshunt and six ahead of Brightlingsea. 

The Wands went ahead on the stroke of half time when from a left wing corner, James Duckworth’s ball to the far post was headed home by the impressive Lea Dawson.

However, Cray’s lead lasted barely a minute as Brightlingsea levelled a minute into first half stoppage time after the referee awarded Regent a penalty after Leader was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Josh Gould inside the area.  From the kick, Terry Rymer sent Blue the wrong way to tie

The second half was scrappy but the Wands retook the lead in the 73rd minute when a patient passing move led to Ade Osifuwa playing Leigh Bremner through and as he charged into the box was brought crashing down by Matt Cripps and the referee had no alternative to award a penalty and to send off the Regent captain as last man.  Grant Basey struck home the penalty to restore the lead.

Bremner hit the post for Cray shortly after and the Wands held on for a gritty three points.

Cray:   Blue, Osifuwa, Basey, Leader, Carpenter, Dawson (Capt.), Roberts, Dent (Hunt), Erskine (Powell), Duckworth (Mascoll), Bremner: Subs:  McKinlay, Faulkner

 

 

Att:      107