Cray Wanderers ended a run of three league defeats but had to be content with a point against lowly Chipstead after twice leading the game.

Both sides came into the game in poor form with Chipstead without a win in seven games and lying 20th in the league table.  Cray though edged the first half and took the lead after half an hour with a fine piece of finishing from Danny Haynes and deserved to be in front at the break.

The second half though was a different story and Chipstead improved and levelled in the 63rd minute with Leon Lalor-Dell’s sweetly struck shot.  Cray though went back in front, in the 73rd minute when Jey Leader powered home a header from a corner to notch his first goal for Cray. The Wands though yet again couldn’t finish off Chipstead who grabbed a second equalising goal eight minutes from time when Bradley Wilson fired in from close range.

The breezy and later wet conditions made the game a little difficult at times but after a quiet opening the game developed into a decent match. Cray with new re-signing Nathan Fox at the back, had the first real chance of the game on 15 minutes when Lea Dawson powered a header just wide from a Jey Siva corner.  Then Luke Medley down the left cut fired a shot just wide of the right post.

Chipstead almost took the lead following hesitation by Cray at the back and Karl Parker stole in and chipped a shot wide from thirty yards as keeper Nick Blue came out to meet him.

That was a key moment as two minutes later, Cray went in front when a quick attack saw Danny Haynes find Medley who with a cute back heel played the ball into the penalty area which Haynes showing his great pace latched onto and lofted the ball over the advancing ex Cray keeper Luke Colquhoun and into the net.

The Wands dominated the rest of the half with efforts from Brandon Scott and Haynes going wide.  Then the Medley and Haynes combination almost bore fruit again when Medley’s fine ball from the left found Haynes who was denied a second by a fine blocked save by Colquhoun.  Then on half time, Dawson volleyed over the bar from Siva’s flighted free kick.

The second half was a different story and Cray found it hard to build attacks and Chipstead were the better side.  Parker drove a shot wide then Jason Henry couldn’t quite get on the end of a cross from Chris O’Flaherty.

Chipstead levelled in the 63rd minute when Leon Lalor-Dell did well to turn and squeeze in a shot from the left edge of the penalty area which found its way into the net.  Then a shot from O’Flaherty tested Blue at his near post.

Cray though against the run of play in the second half went back in front in the 73rd minute.  Medley won a corner down the left and Siva’s cross to the far post saw Jay Leader soar over David Graves to steer a powerful header into the net.

The Wands though couldn’t hold on to their lead and eight minutes from time, Chipstead levelled once again when Cray got in a bit of a muddle at the back and Bradley Wilson in a goal mouth melee steered the ball into the net from close range. 

The game finished in a draw which was about the right result and which leaves Cray ninth in the league table, eight points off the playoff places.

Cray: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Jey Siva, Jay Leader, Nathan Fox, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Sean Roberts, Karl Dent, Danny Haynes, Luke Medley, Brandon Scott (Dane Luchford, 79): Subs:  Paul Lorraine, Timi Osidobu, Zak Henry, Jai McKinlay

Attendance:   65