Cray Wanderers gained a hard earned point from their third away game of the week against a more than useful Corinthian Casuals side. 

Cray went in front through Karl Dent’ close range finish in the 33rd minute, but the lead lasted barely a minute as Casuals drew level with a Josh Uzun penalty.  The Wands task became considerably harder when Danny Haynes was sent off a minute before half time and had to play the whole of the second half with ten men.  Despite the handicap of being a man short, Cray defended stoutly in the second half and frustrated Corinthian Casuals efforts to score and thoroughly deserved their point at the end.

Cray started the game well and Danny Haynes with his back to goal turned a hooked shot just wide from Jay Leader’s flick on.  Then Haynes fired over from Lea Dawson’s pass.

Corinthian Casuals then took over and Nick Blue had to be alert to save from Ben Cheklit twice and Cray were under the cosh for about twenty minutes.

However, Cray took the lead against the run of play with a well worked goal after 33 minutes.  Haynes swept the ball out to Brandon Scott down the left hand side and his cross from the byline was cushioned by Haynes into the path of Karl Dent who volleyed the ball high into the net from seven yards.

The lead though lasted only a minute as Casuals went back on the attack and the rangy Okojie was played through and was hauled down by Dawson for a penalty which was dispatched by Josh Ozun to level the scores,

The Wands hopes received a blow in the last minute of the first half when Haynes was sent off for a fairly reckless tackle on Danny Dudley and was shown a straight red card.

The second half saw the Wands produce a disciplined display to batten down the hatches and restricted the home side to shots that were deflected behind or a combination of blocks by the immense Paul Lorraine and Leader. 

Cray actually had two good opportunities on the break to grab a win with Luke Medley who was denied by home keeper Danny Bracken foot with a near post shot.  Then in the final minute he worked an opening to the edge of the penalty area and shot over the bar.

In the end Cray had doggedly preserved a point which keeps them in the playoff hunt in ninth place in the league table.  The two sides meet again in the league at Hayes Lane on 25th January.

Cray:   Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Jey Siva, Jay Leader, Paul Lorraine, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Sean Roberts, Lee Prescott, Danny Haynes, Karl Dent, Brandon Scott (Luke Medley, H/T): Subs:  Sol Taiwo, Dane Luchford, Timi Osidobu, Jai McKinlay

Attendance:   186