Cray Wanderers suffered a third straight defeat as leaders Tooting & Mitcham United completed a league double over the Wands with at times an impressive victory.

Cray had been beaten by two playoff contenders, Lewes and Carshalton after a three game winning run put them back into contention but Tooting & Mitcham looked the best side Cray have played this season.  Although their victory was not quite as comprehensive as the game at Imperial Fields in November there was no doubt they deserved to win the match.

The Wands got off to a terrible start with Daniel Clements firing the visitors in to a third minute and had other chances to score.  Gradually though Cray got back into the game and levelled five minutes before half time with a tremendous strike from Lee Prescott,  However, on the stroke of half time, Ashley Robinson prodded Tooting in front and in the second half goals by Chace O’Neill and another goal in injury time from Clements sealed the points for Tooting & Mitcham.

On a wet and murky night, Cray came close early on when Luke Medley fired over the bar but fell behind in the 4th minute.  A ball forward from Peter Wedgeworth was mis-controlled by Grant Basey and Clements stole in to finish clinically wide of Nick Blue for the worst possible start for Cray.

Chances for the visitors came in the opening minutes mainly through Clements whilst Danny Haynes tested Kyle Merson with a low drive and Paul Lorraine saw an effort blocked for Cray.

The Wands were fortunate when Billy Dunn fired just wide and then Sandy Cunningham saw a close range effort come back off a post.  Brandon Scott fired over the bar for Cray shortly after coming on after half an hour as the pace of the game was unrelenting.

Another goal was coming and did so for Cray five minutes before half time and was very well worked.  Medley found Scott down the right and his ball to the near post aimed for Karl Dent went just across the face of goal.   The ball was picked up by Jey Siva who laid the ball back to Prescott who from close to thirty yards cracked in a first time shot which crashed off the inside of a post into the back of the net for one of the best goals of the season. 

Parity was only temporary as Tooting went back in front with a bit of a soft goal two minutes into stoppage time.   Michael Dixon saw a shot deflected for corner down the right.  From the kick, Wedgeworth’s ball into the box looked to have been claimed by Blue but couldn’t get his hands to the cross and following up Ashley Robinson drove the ball into the net past a defender on the line. Blue then had to make a fine save from Clements a minute later.

The second half was a much scrappier affair and Cray lost their fluency.  Tooting & Mitcham scored their third goal six minutes after the break.  A free kick twenty yards out down the left from Jordan Wilson was played towards Dunn who returned the ball to Wilson who in turn passed to Chace O’Neill who had time and space to fire in a shot from the edge of the area which crept past Blue and into the net for their 100th league goal of the season.   

Cray found chances hard to come by save for a long distance strike from Leigh Bremner whilst for Tooting Dunn came close with a curling shot which Blue got down well to save.

Three minutes into stoppage time Tooting & Mitcham notched a fourth goal when Cunningham who had a very good game and was possibly man of the match worked his way down the left and put over a cross to the near post to Clements who arrived to nod the ball into the net from five yards to complete a good nights work for the league leaders.

Cray remain tenth in the table and are eight points off the playoffs after this defeat.  They travel to Surrey for face Chipstead on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways.

Cray:   Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Grant Basey (Brandon Scott, 30), Jay Leader, Paul Lorraine, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Lee Prescott, Karl Dent (Zak Henry, 64), Danny Haynes (Leigh Bremner, 69), Luke Medley, Jey Siva:  Subs:  Dane Luchford, Jai McKinlay

Att: 214